Breath Before Becoming

Maybe this time,
we should all do something different.
Something quieter.
Something simpler.

I’m sorry
this won’t be the regular New Year write-up.

No recaps of the year we survived,
no long summaries of lessons learned,
no carefully listed expectations
for the year ahead.

So what exactly am I doing here?

I guess I’m choosing honesty.
I’m sorry this particular one is gonna be conversational-like.

Maybe this time,
we should all do something different.
Something quieter.
Something simpler.

Ask for nothing.
Not because we don’t need more,
but because we’ve already carried enough.

Just bless God
for breath,
for endurance,
for making it this far.

Stay strong,
even when strength looks like rest.

Get ready
not with pressure,
but with intention.

And when the moment comes,
go harder.
Not out of fear,
but out of faith.

—Zainab Kolapo