Riki’s Toddler Already Knows

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— body language by Weddie Thiên —

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You circle and circle, going 'round and around,

A report and a report, but no ask to be found!

"I'm confused," so you whisper, so foggy, so blear,

Your confusion's a fake. The truth is: it's fear.

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You won't feel the fear, so you think you’re "unclear,"

You would rather stay stuck than make friends with those fears.

Yet your toddler would ask without shame, without pause,

Or "no, no” and “yes,” and she’d say it because,

She knows what she wants! She’ll ask all the day long!

“Give me THIS! Give me THAT!” Loud and clear as a song!

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So ask, ask, ask, like the toddler you were!

Take care of yourself, whether others mutter or purr.

Be willing to walk out, your power’s in your view,

Your toddler knows this and you know it too!

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When you wanted to dance, why, you danced on the floor!

When you wanted to cry, then you cried and cried more!

You were bold, you were brave, you were proactive and free,

Till they said, "Be quiet! Be polite! You must obey me!"

And they drilled it in deep and YOU drilled it in too:

"It's DANGEROUS!” you say. Are you sure? Is it true?

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"But they might get angry! They might think me rude!

They might blame the whole ME! I’ll have a terrible mood!"

Well, poor little Riki, so meek and so mild,

Are you really made of glass, more frail than a child?!

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Now grown, you’ll ask smarter, more sly and more spry:

"Dear boss, I can't see it, please help me, tell why.

I want truly to help, I want truly to do,

Won't you share what you're after? I'll get behind you!"

That's the toddler grown up, still as bold as before,

Just dressed up a bit finer to open more doors.

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With a boss or a friend, it is all just the same:

If you won't walk away, you can’t play a good game.

For they'll tempt with bright praise, and they'll threaten dark blame,

And they'll run you and rule you and dress you in shame!

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A friendship's not promised, and shouldn't be so!

Friends taken for granted grow stiff and grow slow.

So invite them to partner, do all that you can,

But YOU choose in the end if it's worth the whole plan.

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It feels risky now and others might get quite sore,

But the long game's the game, and it's worth so much more!

One friend blocked me stone cold, and I let the risk ride,

Two months later she said, "Hi there!" a smile open wide.

I never blamed her back, though she huffed and she flew,

I was willing to lose her. That's a power that's true blue.

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You can't control how they respond, that isn't your part,

You can only change YOU, and that's where you must start!

And if pleasing them all is the prize that you chase,

You have lost the whole game before starting the race!

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So ask, ask, ask, like the toddler you were!

Take care of yourself, whether others mutter or purr.

Be willing to walk out, your power’s in your view,

Your toddler knows this and you know it too!