there was a time when I adhered to guidance, and abandoned the subjects I wanted to study
there was a time when I succumbed to practicalities, and took up law & politics instead of journalism
there was a time when I gave up my aspirations in international criminal law for a salary in banking
there was a time when I made everyone proud, but myself miserable
there was a time when I was an obedient, good child, yet loathed myself for being so
there was a time when I pretended to be strong, happy, and successful in front of everyone, but my spirit festered inside
there was a time when I wore a mask to keep up the smiles, but the dissonance corroded my soul
there was a time I even forgot my dreams to become a writer
there was a time when my ambitions to change the world were belittled, and I lost the determination to battle on
there was a time I wanted to be everyone else, except myself
it is to be no more
on this 36th birthday, I promise myself:
I will be me; I live for myself
I will express how I feel as it is
I will not care if people tell me how I “should” be feeling or not
I will not be afraid to say, “I’m crumbling, I need help”
I will not be wary of loneliness, despair, or rage
I will chase my dreams again
I do not know when they will materialize –
or whether they would even come true
dreams will be my motivation
dreams will give me meaning
dreams will give me purpose
dreams will be how I live
dreams will make me laugh & giggle again
dreams are my reality
happy birthday to me
Only one life: ours! HB.
YES! Our lives. Our dreams!
I just read this so this is late. But I hope it was an awesome birthday.
Thanks! 🙂