July 26-B, 2022

If your life were your own to live,
how would it be different
from the way it is now?

What can you do now,
to begin moving in that direction?

What symbolic act can you make
in your life
as a gesture declaring
your intention
to live into living your life
as you know it needs to be lived?

How might you add to 
those symbolic gestures
in building/creating
a "side life"
that is yours alone
alongside the life you are living?

So that you walk two paths at the same time--
one to satisfy the demands you must serve
and the other to serve
as your secret life
just for yourself 
that no one knows of but you.

Become a double-agent!
Work you into your life
in clandestine ways!
Be the you no one knows of!
Listen to music they don't know about!
Read books they don't see you reading!
Take walks they don't go on with you!
Develop your private side!
Bring you to life on the sly!
All as practice
for when the kids leave home,
or you can retire,
or your mother-in-law
finally kicks the bucket.

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