< Go Back Be you I read a poem and instantly connected to it…. It was me, many
years ago. A me I could easily bring
back, but choose not to.
If she went to the back, they would ask why,
If she led from the front, they hated her stride
They would ask her advice then question her guidance,
They would brand her loud but be shocked by her silence
When she shared no ambition they thought it was sad
But when she shared her dreams they thought she was mad!
They said they’d listen then covered their ears
Giving her a hug whilst they laughed at her fears
And she listened to all of it thinking she should
Be the person they wanted, best as she could
Then, one day, she asked what was best for herself
Instead of trying to please everyone else.
So she walked to the forest and stood with the trees
She heard the wind whisper and dance with the leaves
She spoke to the willow, the fir and the pine
And told them what she’d been told time after time.
She told them she felt she was never enough
She was either too little or just far too much
Too loud or too quiet, too fierce or too weak
Too wise or too foolish, to bold or too meek.
And in that small clearing surrounded by firs
She waited to hear what the trees said to her
She sat there for hours, not wanting to leave….
For the forest said nothing….. it just let her breathe.
I learned a lot from that poem… Sometimes we know the
answer, sometimes we need to listen. We can
learn from others about ourselves, as we can’t always see outside the box, but
we must choose who we ask. If they don't like you as you are, that's their choice. Your choice is to accept or walk away. Are they really a friend?
We change to improve, to grow. Not because others are trying to mould
you into what they want you to be. You will never please everyone all
of the time. Be YOU. And only change you
if YOU want to.