You Do Not Have to be Good

You do not have to be good.

Keep that in mind when you’re out in the world.

You do not have to do what the world says
or follow rules that are archaic and foreign.

You just have to be.
You just have to breathe.
You just have to open your eyes every morning
and say that you have not been defeated.

You do not have to keep your head down.

Keep that in mind when you have something to say.

You do not have to just go along
because you don’t want to be seen as subversive or dissident.

You just have to stand.
You just have to live.
You just have to hold on every night
and say that you will not be forgotten.

You do not have to be good.

For if you were good who would win the fight?

-Julia Nusbaum, creator