Peace

for judgmental people

This is not a poem.

This is something I must say.

When struggling with anger,

When in a war with one's self,

fighting an endless, raging ocean of emotions,

one must find peace within.

I can go through the day and not be bothered,

I can gain the upper hand in any argument,

I am peaceful, happy, and healthy.

There are reasons for this,

reasons which are often mistaken

and I must beg you not to mistake them.

Just because I meditate,

does not mean I am a buddhist, 

or am in a cult. 

Because I eat much fruit

and smoothies

does not mean I'm an "L.A. snob"

Because my body is in shape and in tune with itself from Yoga,

again, does not have any connection to a religion 

and does not make me an "L.A. snob"

Tai Chi,

Yoga,

Juicing,

Pilates,

Meditation,

Active in politics,

ecologically aware,

philosophical readings,

does not bind me to any one thing in particular.

You judge,

you sneer, 

you make your silly little assumptions

and snort when I suggest you try it.

Caring about the world around me,

Knowing my body, 

how to stay healthy and how to use it,

Understanding our impact on this Earth,

is not a crime.

Adults,

you laugh in my face and tell me I am silly,

that I am ignorant and easily manipulated 

simply because I am opinionated when it comes to those who run our country.

I have become a better person and the world refuses to accept it

due to how I got here.

Meditation was my first step, and I implore you to do the same.

Not for religion, rebellion, attention, or because someone said so,

do it for yourself. 

Meditation is clearing your mind, teaching yourself to be patient,

and focus. When having a bad day and someone bumps into you,

you can just as easily get angry and irritated,

or you could brush it off.

You see, meditation is a way to clear your mind.

I'm not saying it's the only way, or that it's the best, 

but it's a way that helped me.

 I'm not converting you, 

I'm not pestering you,

I'm asking you,

because when I see that you're unhappy,

the kind of irritable, unhappy, aching person I used to be,

I want to see you be your best,

I mean no harm, 

I simply want you to be happy.

This is not a poem.

This is a thing I must say.

To the adult upstairs who screams at me for being a religious, selfish, ignorant, horrible person, 

simply because I found something that helps me, be a better me. 

To the sneering strangers who think me odd for dressing in dark colors and conservatively, because the reason couldn't possibly be that I like the color, or that I prefer conservative clothes,

no, it's because I'm a satanic devil worshiper, and a w***e.

To the snickering teenagers who run off to drink, smoke, and fill a void because they do not understand that.... that what?

I see these teenagers come to school with tears in their eyes and bruises on their heart, 

I see them flinch in an instant from being vulnerable to vicious and vindictive, brushing it off and laughing at something that is not socially acceptable. 

Do not do things for others.

Do them for yourself. 

I cuss, 

I have fun,

I act crazy,

but also poised,

knowledgable, 

looked down upon as a degenerate,

but I simply don't care,

because I'm healthy, strong, opinionated,

driven, confident, understanding,

tactile,  and most importantly.

I'm happy