I Met a Man
I’m not sure of the protocol of entering my own Challenge, but this seemed like the appropriate place for this:
I Met a Man
I met a man.
He saw my fear.
The dark shadow over me.
He saw my confusion.
And he smiled.
“Stand up,” commanded the man, raising me from my inner mind, where I cowered in solitude.
“Why do you cower?”
“I’m afraid,” I said.
“Of what might come. And also, what might not come to pass.”
“Then protect yourself,” he said
“But not by curling up in a ball and hiding away.”
“Then, how?” I replied
“I usually hide in a corner of my head where no-one can find me. Until the danger goes away.”
“No, no ,no,” replied the man.
“Corners are dark. You must shine. Inspire. Overcome!”
“Tell me how.”
And he did:
Make your ‘Stone of Life’.
It will be your centre. Your rock. Your anchor.
Make it from things to make you strong :
Honesty; Resilience; Self-care; Humour.
Engrave it with the ability to say ‘No’ and ‘Not Yet’.
Carve it from your values – immovable.
Around your Stone of Life, build your world.
Be Measured. Be Strong. Be Soft. Be Firm.
This is how to protect yourself.
To keep yourself safe.
“Yes,” I blinked.
“But if I am attacked? How will this protect me?”
“Well,” explained the man, “listen and I will tell.”
And he did:
It will keep you You.
Resolute and Strong.
And then.
You Radiate!
Radiate Love.
Radiate Power.
Radiate Belief.
And
Radiate Conviction.
You will glow, like a bursting star.
The darkness will not touch you,
As you hold your head high, raise up your arms and proclaim: I Am Me!
I Am Me!
And I Am Mighty!
He smiled.
I smiled back.
“So do not cower,” said the man,
“In hidden corners. Shadowed in darkness even before the darkness comes, hiding your worth from the worthless.”
I smiled.
He smiled back.
And I glowed.