Held by this train
I am forced to take a break from my constant doing
I surrender to gentle rocking, held softly between steel rails
I search for a pencil and find only a pen, reminding me that I cannot undo
the mistakes I have made
I sit with myself, take responsibility for my monstrous actions
I let go of my striving to be the smartest in the room, the prettiest in the picture, the most fiercely independent
I practice radical self-acceptance instead of my usual devastation when I am inevitably imperfect
A young man getting off the train says something to everyone as he passes
He gives us his blessing, tells us to stay cool in this heat
I wonder what he is high on, and am willing to partake
The train moves on without him, gliding through the evening light
I pause my own racing thoughts to bask in the blessing from a stranger on a train
Ever moving between two rails, I dedicate a moment of my journey to gratitude
