I Am

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest dear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to manifest the glory of God within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

-Nelson Mandela, President, Republic of South Africa. From his 1994 inaugural speech.

Today in my theories class we were discussing the topic of "self." How Decartes said, "I think therefore I am." Is that to say that, in that time period, If you didn't think you were not? I think that in that time as well most others believed that there was no self. But if there was no self there would be no "I" in the first place? It was bold to say and stand apart. Later on in class, my teacher was rambling on about some such thing or another and I was slightly listening and sleeping when I heard him say loud and clear, "Are you trying to be something rather than what you really are?" Am I? And really, honestly... YES yes I am. I have been trying soooo hard to be something than what I really am. I hide. I fear. I am only a cover to what is underneath and written. And realizing this just makes me want to take it all off. Go completely naked. I want to be real. I want to be pure, deep down and raw. It might not be this "WOW" moment for anyone else... but for me- Revived and new I am splendidly going to walk the hidden pages of my life outloud... and naked.