on ease

I marched onto the treadmill, qued up I’M THAT GIRL, punched the incline to 15, and devised a plan to excrete every drop of water from within me in the form of sweat cause

pleasemotherfuckersain’tstoppingme, 

                                              pleasemotherfuckersain’tstopping me, 

                                                                                                 pleasemotherfuckersain’tstoppingme, 

My childish eyes were set on squeezing the uneasiness out of my body like red liquid sticky candy coming from a plastic Ooze Tube, but my body mumbled:

                                “Be gentle with me?” 

She was innocent. More of an ask than a command. Presenting an option that she knew would never be able to keep up with the beat of Beyoncé’s Renaissance. I paused, saddened by her lack of confidence, how soft she spoke. She didn’t believe she would be heard. 

For two minutes the treadmill buzzed in rotation as my feet straddled the never ending black belt of hustle.

I let her speak...

“Not all things require constant hardship and straining. 
Your goals can also be produced from ease.
Some days you will have to do the work, yes, but learn when I am offering you ease. 
Today, I'm offering ease, so ease up. 
Be gentle.”

                                                                                    ... and I listened.