By Ustaz Mark Bang
I was afraid of being rejected
Until I learned to never reject myself
I was afraid of being abandoned
Until I learned to never abandon myself
I was afraid of the opinions of others
Until I learned that they held no more weight than my own
I was afraid of painful endings
Until I realized that they were
also new beginnings
I was afraid of appearing weak
Until I realized how strong
I truly was
I was afraid of being seen as
small and unimportant
Until I discovered my
true power and potential
I was afraid of being
perceived as ugly
Until I learned to fully
appreciate my own beauty
I was afraid of failure
Until I learned that
it was an illusion
When viewed through
the eyes of love,
growth and learning
I was afraid of feeling low
Until I learned that it was
the birthplace of brilliance
And where my greatest
transformation occurred
I was afraid of change
Until I realized it was an
inevitable part of life
In a world full of things
temporary and fleeting
I was afraid of being alone
Until I learned to fully embrace
and appreciate my own company
I was afraid of my uniqueness
Until I learned that it was
where my greatness lay
I was afraid of the darkness
Until I remembered that I was the light
And I was afraid of life
Until I remembered who I was. “Public Staunchest Ally ”
The writer of this article is a Human rights activist, writer, and professional teacher.