by Peggy Kwisuk Hong
you do not have to be strong enough
nor limber enough
nor smart enough
you do not have to have the perfect balance of firmness and flexibility
you do not have to have the answer to every problem
you do not have to know it all by heart
there is no such thing as beautiful enough
there is only the fact of your face
and the truth it carries
the hurt and the joy and the uncertainty
there are only the laugh lines growing deeper
than the worry lines
there is no such thing as brilliant enough
there is only the presence of your mind
at any given moment
the fluctuations and the fullness
you do not have to be virtuous all the time
you do not have to be enlightened today
there is always the next lifetime
there is always another chance to be just a little bit kinder
a little bit wiser
take it in small doses like a homeopathic remedy
take a pellet of tapas
a tablet of svadhyaya
a tincture of ishvara pranidhani
your earnest effort is enough for today
for the path is long, spiraling, and circuitous
that’s enough for the moment
for you are good enough
good enough already
reprinted with permission by Peggy Kwisok Hong, Iyengar Yoga Teacher, Community Builder, Ukulele Activist, Poet