Okay? Poem by Grant House

She wasn't sure
But since she was little
She had suspected she had superpowers
And then it happened
It occurred to her this one fine spring morning
After what anyone would say was a life well lived
That adversity
Had made her stronger
That her tries and fails
Had deepened her understanding, compassion, and resilience
That her willingness to take a risk and rise to each challenge
Had enhanced her sense of self worth whether things worked out well or not

The times she stepped up to the plate and struck out
Left her feeling proud she had given it her best
And when she connected, let's just say the people
Sitting high in the bleachers way out beyond left field
Had better be alert as that meteor crashed back down through the atmosphere while she rounded the bases high fiving her coaches along the way

She became an invaluable resource for friends and others she met
Anyone in need of a good ear, a shoulder, or a reassuring hug
Could turn to her in their hour of need
One thing they could count on
She did not buy into their poor me victim talk
Instead, she drew out their strengths, their own inner suspicions
That their experience was of value
That they had superpowers of their own
Her failures had made her a better friend

She realized all this on the way to the hospital
For the procedure that she had been told
Could very well take her life

She thought of everything that led up to this moment
She felt a sudden flush of gratitude for the chance she had been given
The one she had taken
To live life out loud
The opportunity to become an extraordinary person
Someone she could honestly say she was proud of
Who gave her life
With all it's twists and turns
It's best shot
Who had failed well
And, she thought with a chuckle, often

Her eyes closed tight as the tears came
I did good
She said to herself in a well deserved lap of self-appreciation
I have done my best and whatever happens
I know good will come
Oh, she thought,
I hope good will come

She smiled through the tears at the nurse holding the door
She wiped her wet cheeks with her hand as they wheeled her into the surgery center

The doors closed on the crisp morning sunrise touching the tops of the trees behind her
A lot of good will come
She said to herself in defiance this time as they prepared her
Oh, God, a lot of good, right? she implored of her creator
Her lifelong inner companion
Please let this be good

Then, like a gift
She remembers falling down as a little girl
Skinning her knee and hands a bit
Her pretty Sunday dress tearing along the hem
She remembers
Getting up
Looking around
Brushing off the dust
And then running to catch up with the other kids
Her superpowers kicking in

Okay, she says aloud in a way of reclaiming her power
Okay
Let's do this
And, to her inner self
As if for permission
Or maybe for the reassurance she had offered so often to others
The reassurance she needed more than anything right now
She petitions in her quietest most private inner voice
Okay?