The Last Guilt Trip

To my debilitating and self-sabotaging guilt,

I resign from your clever ways

How you wrap yourself around me like a vile vine

Squeezing and suffocating

Everything I am meant to be

I am done

I am done listening to your nonsense rants

I am done letting you dig your way under my skin

I am done giving you the reins on my life

I will no longer be a passive listener

I will no longer be a spineless host

I will no longer be a compliant passenger

You no longer have control

If I decide not to write today, so be it

If I decide not to read today, oh well

If I decide not to leave the house today, too bad

It is my decision, not yours

Watch me as I leave dishes in the sink

Abandon laundry in the dryer

Miss the deadline of another challenge

No more feeling bad about

Taking a break

Sitting on the couch

Saying no

To what I should be doing

I'm taking your hoard of "shoulds"

And throwing them in the dumpster

Lighting a match

Watching them all burn

And from those ashes

My dreams will rise

Unfiltered

Without restraint

I will steady my feet

Walk with confidence

You will no longer trip me

With your hidden traps

Instead

If I shall fall

If I shall fail

Then I will do so

With grace

And no regrets

Sincerely,

Me