after everything is said and done,
we’re alone so we might as well accept
the imperfect versions of ourselves as we grow
and know that behind all the posturing
and the bravado, there’s still so much
for us to learn

for even beautifying filters can only do so much
to hide the tears we cried the night before
and before we know it, we’re back
to feeling alone and unworthy,
forgetting how to pick ourselves up
from off the floor.

But we do–and we will–even if
we have to go through hell and back
to do it. For after everything is said and done,
we’re all stronger than we know.
we just have to get up, dust the dirt off our knees
and go.