When I say I want to make the world better just by being in it,
people give me a look
as if I’d said I want to climb a beanstalk to the clouds

They think making the world better by being in it means I’d like to be
a name in your history textbook or on a headline on your screen
or America’s Most Charitable

And I don’t correct them, because I’ll let them think I have big dreams
Let them think I plan to travel the world
and talk at press conferences and have lunch with the president
to discuss my new plans to get the nation out of debt over tea and pastries

Let them think my dreams are bigger than holding the hand of my friend in the rain 
or complimenting a stranger in passing or
striking up conversation with the woman giving samples at Costco, if my anxiety allows that day
Or bending wire into misshapen jewelries for anyone who asks
or saving half of my blueberry muffin for my favorite pigeons at my favorite park,
or making the world better just by being in it

Let them think I dream so big you couldn’t hold it in your hands
Because maybe they’ll go home and tell about a girl who wants to change the world just by living
A girl who doesn’t play sports or join clubs,
who still talks about coming third in her elementary school spelling bee with a smile on her face wants to change the world just by living

And they’ll smile and laugh together, and their Hahaha’s will turn into Lets get dinner, how about your favorite tonight
And they’ll smile and laugh together and they may not remember me ever again
And I will have made the world better just by being in it