By Annette Camp
April 11, 2024
You should
know that I
make mistakes.
I am not
perfect.
I feel grief,
fear, and
even anger.
I've not been
emotionally
supported
through life
altering deaths
and painful
unexpected
change.
I detach and
focus on regret
rather than
solutions.
I need to work
on emotional
openness and
expression.
I want you to
listen, empathize,
and be patient.
Because I am
not perfect.
I've been neglected
and exposed to
pure horror,
unstable and
dangerous
environments,
felt unsafe and
trusted no one.
I take flight.
I freeze and
I fight.
I need to trust,
take risks and
build a secure,
stable life.
I want you to
explore with me
my anxieties.
Don't walk away.
I'm not perfect.
I've been around
volatile people
and have been
violated; physically,
verbally, sexually
and mentally abused.
My voice has not
always been heard.
Passive aggressiveness
may rear its head
and I may be unclear
in my communication.
I need to calmly
speak my truth;
be clear in what
I really want.
I want you to ask
what my needs are
and let me feel heard.
You should know
I'm not perfect.
AND you should know
I'm doing the inner
work to heal.
