If you care to look beyond the empty arms, you will see that my worth is in my soul, my heart, my mind, my body.

My soul is filled with meaning and purpose. This did not come easy.  I searched in the swamps of despair, the forests of longing, the skies of hope, and the stars of dreams, until I found what I needed to bring a song to my soul. It a song that belongs to me composed on the strings of self-care.

At times, I may share it with you. 

But, my friend, to hear my song with its joyous, and sometimes melancholy melody, you will need to see beyond your filter of what you think I should be.

My heart is filled with love and compassion.  I yearn to comfort those in tears. My heart strives to be a channel of peace. I know what being alone and lonely means. And, so I light a candle in your dark days, in the hopes that you will feel less alone.

But, my friend, to see my light and the hope it brings, you will need to see beyond your filter of what you think I should be.

My mind is filled with thoughts of how to make this forest of longing a better place. I seek out wisdom of the elders, the emerging leaders, and those who have tread this path before me. I seek to learn from all near and far so that I might be able to share with you notions that may comfort and change your world.

But, my friend, to hear what I have learnt, you will need to see beyond your filter of what you think I should be.

My body is a place where my soul, heart and mind reside.  It is not perfect. It has held life even if only for a short time, and for that I am grateful.  This too did not come easy, but with the help of others, I found gratitude to accept, honor and respect my body as a receptacle that allows me to be. For you see, it is also what allows me to connect with you in speech, prose, and love.

But, my friend, to make this connection, you will need to see beyond your filter of what you think I should be.

For if you look beyond your filter of what you think I should be, you would see that I am a treasure trove of love, compassion, intellect, choices and decisions, for you see my worth goes far far beyond my reproductive capability.

I am worthy quite simply because I am.

Anne Altamore