The Default by Valerie Parente

The default is compassion
but when it comes to yourself, it’s dissatisfaction.
So why can’t you grant yourself the grace
you so easily give others in the same headspace?

Why when perspective is first person
is the expectation to be perfect?
You are someone else’s someone else,
and if you can identify their cry for help
why can’t you do the same
when it comes to your own brain?

You have so much empathy for the human condition,
step outside yourself and listen,
everything you go through, someone else can relate to,
it’s time to change the default settings and reboot.

– Valerie Parente (4-19-2025)