You can only meet people as deeply as they have met themselves

you can only meet people

as deeply as they have met themselves,

as authentically as they have come to know themselves,

and for how closely they have allowed themselves to turn inward.

the parts they are willing for us to witness,

though, for how honestly

and how tenderly

they hold all parts of self.

how they have welcomed growth

with open curiosity,

the stories they have rewritten,

and the shadows they've stayed with

long enough to understand,

and to meet themselves truly.

from a place of presence,

rather than perfection,

that we can meet each other deeply.