Okay What actually helps? Woke up with my jaw aching Phone facedown beside the bed Kept waiting for some grand solution To arrive inside my head Opened up an empty note Typed “Things That Help” on top Sat there looking at the title Like the title knew a lot Wrote, “Make something, eat something Get outside and call somebody” None of it looked big enough to save me That was why I could start I don’t need the whole way out I need something I can do One decision small enough To make before I lose it These are the things that help A song before I sleep A meal before I’m empty A walk without a screen Calling somebody back Letting one small promise hold They don’t fix me all at once They’re just the things that help Wrote four ugly lines that evening None of them knew how to rhyme Kept them ’cause they told the truth And truth was all I had that night Heated something from the freezer Sat down while I ate Turned the television off Before it asked if I was still awake Walked around the block without Recording distance, speed or time Nothing dramatic happened The room just felt less tight I kept waiting to feel different Then I noticed what had changed I was still inside a hard day I just hadn’t made it worse These are the things that help A song before I sleep A meal before I’m empty A walk without a screen Calling somebody back Letting one small promise hold They don’t fix me all at once They’re just the things that help Tuesday came in sideways I had done none of it by noon Saw the list and felt it judging Like another thing I’d lose Almost cleared the whole note Then I read the final line “If you can’t do all of this Pick the easiest one tonight” Filled a glass, answered one message Wrote the first line of this song The day was still a difficult day It just didn’t get worse from there I can make the next hour kinder I can stop feeding the worst I can do one useful thing Before I ask if it worked I don’t have to call it healing I don’t have to feel inspired I can help myself get out Even when I still feel tired These are the things that help A song that tells the truth Eating before my hands shake Giving sleep a chance to do Putting distance from the screen Calling someone I still trust Doing one thing for tomorrow When today has taken enough They don’t fix me all at once They don’t promise I won’t slide I can help myself get out One small thing at a time Open the note Add one more Remember This helped
