under all the garbage
that we insist on carrying around
inside our bodies,
dragging around the heaviness
of stress and tension
anger, guilt, and sadness
like our own personal backpacks
of shame

I’m not good enough….
I should have said….
I could have done….

If we start to let that garbage go
drop it next to a park bench
and walk away
exhale and release it to the wind
and begin to walk with lighter steps
we will find
that hidden under all of that nonsense
is light
steadfast
holy and perfect
shining and claiming us as a beloved part 
of this remarkable universe

so when I bow to you and say,
Namaste,
remember that no matter how
heavy you may feel 
weighed down by the grief of life 
in this moment
this is a gentle reminder to release and breathe,
because that wild and beautiful light
inside me
is bowing in reverence
to that wild and beautiful light
inside you