Breathe

It's OK

Breathe

Breathe again

And again

Keep moving while you think.

Or, you know what? Don't think so much.

Breathe

Embrace imperfection

Embrace

    Life

        Now

Dance

    imperfectly

Paint

    imperfectly

Love

    imperfectly

But do dance

    and paint

    and write

    and love

Embrace joy

And pain, too

Boredom

Exhaustion

All of it

Just breathe

It's OK

Hope

Why hope?
Because the sun shines
Because God is an artist
Because hope heals
Because hope feels better than despair
Because death brings life
And morning always comes somewhere for someone
Because flowers grow in the cracks of sidewalks 
Trees grow in Brooklyn
And music builds palaces (in my heart, if nowhere else)

People still tell stories
And sing songs
They tuck their children in at night with kisses and hugs and prayers
They share favorite movies
Read books that delight and inform
They paint and create music
They serve in quiet ways

Not all people 

(Maybe not many)
But enough
There is enough good in the world for hope
Enough notes for a melody
Enough singers for a chorus.