Why is it we treat a our potential like a secret
Stashed away in treasure chests to be hidden beneath our beds
Locked away in the closet
As if we are ashamed of what we could do if we didn’t limit ourselves
I see this every day
In the mirror when I wake up
And the faces I see on the street
It’s as though we are afraid of shining too much
Of standing out against the crowd
Because a star that bright seems to glow alone
Casting everything else in shadow
We are told to be humble
Don’t brag
Keep your skills to yourself
So as not to hurt the feelings of others
And I get it
I do
But when did that turn into not having pride in yourself
When did it become normal to play down your skills
As if you were guilty of being something wonderful
You are a star
Shine
Because keeping your potential to yourself
Is a discourtesy to the world
One that thrives off the light we give
So please
Don’t be afraid
Don’t let fear of failure or standing out stop you
Have pride
Stand out
Shine
~
Hello World,
Alright, yes, this poem is definitely on the cheesy side. Do I regret it? Nope. I think it’s important that we remind ourselves of this every day.
In some ways I hate the word “potential” because to me it means something unfulfilled. Like I (or you or anyone else) can do better than you already are. And as someone who can be ridiculously competitive and a perfectionist, that drives me crazy. It means I’m not doing my best and a lot of the time it’s because I’m standing in my own way. Which sucks.
Anyways, my point is, I’m tired of the limits I put on myself and being ashamed of my abilities. Hopefully this works as a wake up call to others out there who see/feel that they’ve been doing the same thing.
Until next time
X
