It has taken me years to let go of the puritanical imprinting from my youth.
It has taken me years to let go of the racism that I was raised with.
It has taken me years to celebrate my intelligence rather than dumb myself down.
It has taken me years to unbind society’s chains it has put around women to keep them small and quiet.
It has taken me years to let go of the guilt I have carried because of bad decisions I have made.
It has taken me years to forgive myself for the harm I inflicted on others because of my own ignorance – especially my son.
It has taken me years to let go of the feeling that I have always been the ugly duckling.
It has taken me years to stop hating men because a few physically hurt me and broke my heart.
It has taken me years to break down the protective walls I built around me to protect myself from abuse.
It has take me years to forgive and let go of the harm others have done to me.
Yes! It has taken me years.
Now I stand tall. Loving who I have become. Revelling in my strength. No longer apologising because I am smart. Not caring what other’s think. Accepting that how I look is beautiful to me. Knowing that all of my past experiences forged who I am now.
And STILL choosing to stay authentic and direct – with compassion and kindness. Now I can let go of the opinions of others knowing that their opinions really have nothing to do with me.
I can look in the mirror and confidently say – you have been vastly more kind, conscious and considerate than you have been mean unconscious and spiteful – and that leaves me fulfilled.
And being at peace that I am simply not able to save everyone or everything and that I can let go.
And above all else I seek only those who make me feel better about who I am since I am already my harshest critic.