You Are Allowed

You are allowed to rest.

Not earn it. Not justify it.

Not wait until you've done enough—

there is no enough.

You are allowed to say no

without a paragraph of explanation.

You are allowed to be sad

on a day that looks like happiness.

You are allowed to take up space.

To eat the good cheese.

To call in.

To turn around.

To start over.

The permission you've been waiting for?

You had it the whole time.

It was always yours to give.