What if...

I gave myself permission ...
  to truly rest
  to stop striving
  to accept I am enough?

The world wouldn't end
  Life would continue
    I would still be loved

What if ...

I gave myself permission ...
  to sit in silence
  to be still
  to breathe?

The world wouldn't cease turning
  Sounds would continue
    I would still be enough

What if ...

I gave myself permission ...
  to savour each moment
  to revel in the joy
  to embrace the sorrow?

The world would continue on
  Life would still happen
    I would be able to sit with those things

What if ...

I gave myself permission ...
  to fully be who I am created to be
  to embrace my idiosyncracies
  to express the depth of my queerness?

The world would still have space for me
  Life would be richer
    I would continue to find those who see me

With thanks to Alejandro, TJ, Sarah and Josh for creating and facilitating the beautiful online contemplative spirituality retreat – Sacred Rest: An Invitation to Sabbath and Renewal – where I had space to ask these questions.

Thanks as well to Joanna for ensuring the tech ran smoothly and didn’t become a distraction.

Thank you as well to the other participants. I don’t know whether any of you are likely to see this, but I’m glad all of us had this opportunity to rest together.