All those things you switch off in yourself,

all the feelings you somehow decide not to feel anymore,

all the dreams you just let die…

and the joke is that you think you’re being so strong, so tough;

you straighten your back and bravely stride through,

bearing up, putting up, shutting up…

So valiant, so impressive, so proud…

Until you realise the truth

that it’s not strong at all

– it’s quite the opposite.

That you’ve simply practised NOT feeling,

so very thoroughly

that you’ve become an old pro at it.

That you’ve slowly lost touch with

and all but forgotten

what used to course through your veins

and ignite your dreams.

That you were not being strong,

but fearful and weak and lazy,

and so misguided,

because as you shrank away from living fully

you slowly gave up on the very things

which actually feed you the power to gain it all.

There’s no honour in abstaining,

in bracing yourself against every high tide,

in denying yourself what you want.

So, toughen up now, Warrior…

Shatter those walls that you thought

were your fortress of strength

and start living wildly out in the open again.

Feel the joy and the passion,

without fear of what may or may not happen.

Allow the softness of that undeniable whisper

of something that thrills your soul,

and dare to fan the spark into an inferno.

It’s time to embrace true strength,

my capable friend –

because it’s time

to feel,

and face,

and allow,

and have,

and be,

and do

all that you ever felt

burning within your mind, body and soul.

Ignite it all, my flaming heart warrior…

and blaze your trail!