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PEEL PROJECT #5 Lutheran Campus Ministry University of Minnesota

Ingrid Otterson


poem by Dylan Blom photography by Dylan Blom
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I was like a sprouting ecosystem,
Budding and growing.
I was like a child traversing picture books with my mom.

Then life happened.
Wandering turned to worrying,
Frolicking turned to fearing,
Delving and digging turned to straining and stressing.

Perfection.
No mistakes.
Achieve.
Perform.
Don’t disappoint.
I am a stagnating river.

But ecosystems grow as sure as the wind blows.
I can relax right now.
I can turn my personal barrier into a personal “Bravo!”

I will be a flourishing ecosystem.
I will forgive myself.
I will laugh loudly.
I will be strong because of my perfect imperfections.
I will be an expert explorer,
Learning to live, and
Living to learn.
Ingrid Otterson