In Defense of Softness

A surivial guide to living in an imperfect world

We have been told to create brave spaces

Because there is no such thing as “safe spaces”

in the real world

but for precisely that reason alone,

I defend my soft spaces

Where my sores and scabs are tended, allowing me to accept

that healing takes time before

it becomes a scar of the past

Where my belly can relax because I tend to hold my breath

and swallow my true emotions elsewhere

When my insecurities are seen as gifts as no one told us

that even diamonds have rough edges

Here, you will be held accountable

because you grow in presence of love

Here, hurt is not reason to get anger and cause harm,

but get still and release pain

but because you try

and try again

Here, you will be forgiven

when you seek to amend

Here, you will be given grace

because you are doing the best you can

to love the things that love you

Love is not easy for those who believed they were unloveable

When the world has harden us,

it is soft spaces we must defend

These places will not be perfect but that is why we cherish them:

they are one of few places where we can be imperfect and still be loved

As you create your world, build spaces with others where sensitivity

lives — where you can cry, laugh, be affectionate, and heal together

We need this as humans

Care is a non-negotiable; without which, we do not survive

Thank Goodness,

there are places and people that welcome us — flawed and all