mindfulness is hard for me.

daughter of immigrants from

southern italy.

i was raised to not feel

or think

just do as i was told.

so at almost 50

i learned that when i felt like

i couldn’t breathe

that was anxiety

or when i slept for

10 hours

that was depression.

at almost 50

i learned that a drink

was not necessary to feel better

that a healthy beautiful man

could love me

that hours of sleep just because

it feels so good to sleep

just because i want too.

after a long work week.