Because of you

I don't spend my money on new makeup bags

filled with low self esteem and insecurities

I spend my Mondays on glorious hikes

filled with smiles and joy and noise from the chipmunks

Because of you

I don't cover my mouth when I say something bold

or loud or unladylike

I cover my head with blankets at night

and dream of your smile and wonder about your eyes and replay your laugh

Because of you

I don’t stress out about each homework assignment

or mistake or worry

I rather stress each syllable I speak

loving the way our voices string words together like perfect little pearls on my mother's necklace

Because of you

I don’t skip past thoughts that are sad or deep or just…

scary

Instead I skip through the halls of school

ignoring the stares and embracing the smiles

Because of you

I don't change my appearance to conform to the identity of my peers

or even the identities of my role models

But rather I change my perspective

and decide to become a new person, rather than another imitator

Because of you

I don’t swallow my voice and let others walk all over me

carelessly and mindlessly stomping

The only thing I swallow now is each bite of your homemade lemon squares

savoring the taste and ignoring the calories society wants me to calculate

Because of you

I don't

Because of you

I do

Because of you

I now know that life is not all so terrible

But in fact it is quite awesome

And dreams are good

And the world loves me

And I love it back