Advice to my younger self

Monsters need friends too

Girl, you do not have to answer every question.
You do not have to solve every clue.
You do not have to finish what you start.
You do not have to go all the way, anywhere.
You can keep the old model. 
You do not need to upgrade.
You can leave your hair as is.
You can go without --
Without makeup 
Without sleep
Without reason or
means.
You can talk too loud and you can 
be a little mean.
You will find yourself regretting
less than you think. 
When you’re tired, you don’t have to keep going
though, sometimes, a two-minute break  
will keep you going on just fine 
and you'll be glad you did. 
You can change -- 
change your mind.
change your style, 
change your attitude,
change your direction,
change your viewpoint --
you can forgive, but you don’t have to.
You’ve got everything you need, and 
plenty that others wouldn’t mind sharing.
Now and then, your dreams are going to
try to kill you, break you wide open -- 
the nighttime ones, and 
the ones you’ve been dragging around 
since you were five. 
Monsters need friends too.
Don’t forget to read a book 
now and then -- lay back on your pillow 
like you used to do, all summer long 
when you weren’t this comfortable in your body 
and let the story carry you away. 
Now and then be sure to
leave the house, 
to spend time with someone
who says things you don’t expect
who smiles at you in that certain way
who dances with their eyes closed,
who pitches their tent outside reality.
Now and then, leave the house  
turn up the music 
and sing -- because
singing is for the singer, 
and for the song --
and for no one else. 

“God, how I ricochet between certainties and doubt.” - Sylvia Plath

*Written from prompt during Tuesday evening writing workshop with Salt Tooth Writers (formerly Writing Workshop KC).