Fuck You, I’m Proud Of You
Fuck you
I am proud of you
and I will say it
till it sticks in your thick skull
Every tiny choice you make
to stay
to stand
to text
to eat
adds up against the pull
You climbed out of bed
on a day that wanted you buried
under blankets and dreams
that smell like stale sheets and fear
Pulled on yesterday’s jeans
found one clean-ish shirt
and walked into a world
that never made it easy
to be here
You answered three emails
you had dodged for weeks
made that appointment
picked up your meds at the store
Nothing glamorous
nothing shareable
just boring hard things
that used to keep you glued
to the floor
You did not drink last night
even though the bottle looked loud
on the counter
telling its smooth lies
You texted a friend instead
said “I am not alright”
and lived through the part
where your throat tried to close
on your cries
You blocked that number
that always dragged you back
into a loop of apologies
that ended with you feeling small
Tossed your phone on the bed
and shook like hell
yet you did not cave
when it started to call
You act like none of this counts
because the sky didn’t crack
and no one handed you a medal
at the end of the street
You only see the days you crashed
the jobs you lost
the bills in a pile at your feet
You miss the way
you keep getting back up
even when your own brain says
stay down
admit defeat
You went to work
on the day your chest felt like a fist
told your boss you needed a quiet minute
instead of quitting by noon
You answered your sister’s call
instead of ghosting the family
until holiday guilt
came back too soon
You said no to a favor
that would have emptied your tank
then sat with the feeling
that you were selfish as hell
You made dinner from cheap groceries
ate at a table instead of the sink
and that simple act
broke the dizzy spell
You love to list the things
you didn’t do
every unchecked box
like a case against your own heart
I am keeping a separate list
every hard truth you faced
every morning you showed up
and pushed the day to start
That list is longer than your failures
and it’s growing off the chart
You do not owe anyone
a big movie ending
with fireworks and perfect teeth
You owe yourself
quiet mornings
where you breathe
without grinding your jaw
underneath
If all you manage today
is not hurting yourself
answering one message
and changing clothes before sleep
I am still going to look you dead in the eye
and say I am proud of you
no punchline
just playing for keeps
When that voice in your head
starts listing every way you fall short
and calls it truth
Hear mine cut through
with a rough little grin
and a middle finger raised
Proud of you, kid
there’s your proof