Don’t You Dare Change

I know

Sometimes it seems like your life is fraying at the seams

But

You are a victim

Blameless and clean

So listen up, cuz you’re not only a victim

You’re also a queen:

Your exes might wish they’d never met you

They might think you’re a distraction and a waste

So what?

Your best friend might roll her eyes behind your back

And think you a charity case

So what?

Your coworkers might smile if you catch the flu

Glad you won’t be in the workplace

So what?

Your neighbors might wish and pray

You’d go far, far away, like to deep space

So what?

Your boyfriend might feel trapped

And secretly resent the very sight of your face

So what?

Your own children might manage to love you,

And forgive the way you’re never around

They might not hold it against you

How you’re constantly letting them down

But other moms might see you as a disgrace

So what?

The people you meet on the street might eye you with mistrust

Even the dogs walking by might shy away in disgust

So what?

So what if your shrink might plainly think

You’re a miserable case

So what?

What does it matter if everyone wishes you’d change?

So what if your one lucid thought is that you’ve earned all the blame

It’s easier

And smoother

And faster

And more naturally you,

To squash it all with a frown

So go ahead

Just double down

Go on pretending you’re a queen, not a clown

And wear your helicopter hat like it were a crown

Don’t introspect or hold yourself to account

Pay yourself interest, a compounding amount

And keep on being the queen that you’ve been all along

Don’t ever let anyone tell you you’re wrong

Please, queen

Just let us all bow and kiss your ring

And if anyone challenges the view that you are royalty supreme,

Roll your eyes

Scoff

And retreat deeper into your dream

Give yourself every excuse

If someone offers critique, just refuse

Swerve and flee from the light of reason

And cling to all flailing rationalizations

Let yourself off every hook

And shelter your ego in a safe cozy nook

You are the only high purpose, believe me, it’s true

The rest of the world was made to serve You

Why the capital y? Because you’re so goddamned divine

You’re never wrong

As long as you simply insist and insist and insist that you’re right

And if anyone

—the judge, your family, the public, even god herself—

If anyone at all

Should question that lie

Or even for a moment haul your conscience up into the light

Just smoosh it back down with all your wild-eyed might

Don’t let the world judge you without a hard fight

Sidestep

Evade

Plug your ears and sing

And always remember you’re a real queen

Don’t ever change

Don’t ever forget who you are

Keep shining baby girl

You are such a fucking star

For the static challenge— dedicated to the people who can do no wrong.

The main characters of the world.

Refusal to grow is a promise to fail.

If you’re static you’re stagnant, and for heavy narcissists, sinking in place seems to be the norm.

But there’s naturally a lot of interference between the suggestion of growth and the real thing.

And most of that interference comes from the ego.