Relaxing into our humanity

Our stories.
Filled wrong turns
And laughter
And ache
And triumph
And connection
And struggle 
Are compelling. 
Without neat bows. 
All the loose ends exposed. 

Why
Do do we hide 
In manicured narratives
With got-it-all-together patinas
As if
We’re fooling anyone?
(Least of all
Ourselves.)

Relaxing
Into our humanity
With its rawness
And messy contradictions
The world relaxes 
Around us. 
Our gaze softens. 
Our face loosens.
The possibility of now
Expands.