Talya’s Poem
This is for anyone who has ever felt not-good-enough; for anyone who has been frustrated by their own impossibly high standards; for anyone who struggles. My friend Talya wrote this little prayer for herself and posted it on Facebook months and months ago, and when I initially saw it, it just seemed so beautiful and– forgive the word– perfect. When Talya came to San Francisco for the summer, pursuing her new dream career in opera, I had the poem custom calligraphed for her as a gift that could go back with her to Cincinnati for the fall. See the final product below, made by Alley & Co. on Etsy, and scroll all the way down for the full text of the poem.
May we all learn to forgive ourselves and remember all the beautiful things we have in our lives. Thanks for the inspiration, Talya! I hope this little gift is allowing you to get inspiration from your own words too.
This is Not the May-I-Be-Perfect Prayer
May I be grateful for my body and all that it does for me
May I take a moment to be fully present
May I taste my food
May I have the courage to be vulnerable and show myself
May I be grateful for everything that I have
May I take good care of myself and others
May I listen to my heart
May I be kind and compassionate
May I act out of love
May I have the courage to both fall down and get back up
May I find inspiration and inspire others
May I connect in a meaningful way with others
May I feel fear and do it anyway
May I accept what I feel and who I am
May I find reason to laugh
May I simply enjoy what I do.
-Talya Lieberman
Anna Wu is a wedding a portrait photographer based in the San Francisco Bay Area but available to travel worldwide. She combines a “fine art” aesthetic with a candid, photojournalistic approach to weddings. Follow her adventures on facebook or her website.
