Breathe – A Poem by Becky Hemsley

There are moments when the weight of expectations feels almost unbearable, pressing down with silent demands and unseen judgments.

We are told to be one thing, yet criticized for being another. We are encouraged to speak up, yet silence is often demanded. In the midst of this, we can forget who we truly are.

This poem by Becky Hemsley, Breathe, captures the struggle of self-acceptance in a world filled with contradictions. It is a gentle reminder to let go of societal expectations, to return to ourselves, and, most importantly, to just breathe. It is a gentle reminder to let go, to return to ourselves, and, most importantly, to just breathe.

Breathe
By Becky Hemsley

She sat at the back and they said she was shy,
She led from the front and they hated her pride,
They asked her advice and then questioned her guidance,
They branded her loud, then were shocked when she was silent.

When she shared no ambition, they said it was sad,
So she told them her dreams and they said she was mad,
They told her they'd listen, then covered their ears,
And gave her a hug while they laughed at her fears.

And she listened to all of it thinking she should,
Be the girl they told her to be – best as she could,
But one day she asked what was best for herself,
Instead of trying to please everyone else...

So she walked to the ocean and stared at the sky,
And let the water breathe her in as she sighed,
She knew she was everything she needed to be,
She just had to breathe, and let herself be.

A Moment to Reflect

This poem speaks to the expectations we carry and the freedom of letting go. It reminds us that we are already enough—without the need for approval or validation.

Take a deep breath, like the tide pulling back to reveal the shore. Step away from the noise for a moment, and let yourself be carried by the rhythm of your own breath—steady, vast, and limitless, just like the ocean. Who are you, when you let yourself just be?

💬 What part of this poem resonated with you the most? Did it remind you of a time when you felt the weight of expectations, or a moment when you finally allowed yourself to just be? I’d love to hear your thoughts on it. ✨

🔗 Share & Connect

#BreathePoem #Mindfulness #SelfAcceptance #LetGo #InnerPeace #SpiritualGrowth #Reflection #JustBe