I just want you to know

That I survived

Now coming from a better place

With a brighter smile on my face

You thought you ruled

When in fact it was you who needed to be schooled

I just want you to know

That I am thriving

I am proud of me

Looking forward to what and who I might be

No longer under your thumb

I look forward to what I might become

I just want you to know

I didn't come to you as a youngin

I had the strength when you met me

It's your loss... (continue reading)

You love me so hard

That I feel obligated to love you back

Your offering is so abundant

That it leaves little room for me to return in kind

Why should I expect

You to do more for me

Than I can expect myself

To do for you

And more importantly

Why would you have it that way

I've spoken of love

Quite eloquently if I may be so arrogant to say

I've touched on pride

And the humility and courage that should accompany it

Now allow me to presume to speak on envy

But let me kick it to you in an unconventional way

I care little of envying what another has

My love of self and my pride in who I am does not allow me that

The envy that concerns me is far more dangerous

Even possibly more debilitating

I speak of envying one's self

I'm talking... (continue reading)

I'm throwing away the shackles of pride

Oh trust me

I will forever hold on to my honor

My integrity

My sense of self

But I am learning to temper pride

Not the pride that puts a distinguished step to my gait

Or the pride that makes me know

That I am somebody

But the pride that denies the right to reach out

The pride that sets myself above and outside

Of who I am and were I came from

The pride that only feeds upon itself

And stops nourishing on the fruits... (continue reading)

People think

That if you do the right thing

Good things will happen for you

People think

That if you are nice to the world I

f you love the little babies

You will be blessed

With an abundance of happiness

If you take good care of your children

Honor thy father and mother

That you will never know sadness vPeople think

But it seems that far too often they are wrong

Goodness does not always beget goodness

Respect does not always beget honesty

Devotion... (continue reading)

What happens?

When you wake up

And recognize

That the greatest fear you have

Is you?

How do you overcome?

Your inadequacies

Your insecurities

Your disappointments

What happens?

When you no longer

Want to see

The man in the mirror

When all around you

See the wonder that is you

And you see yourself

Consistently falling short

What happens?

When turning to yourself

Doesn?t work anymore

What happens is

You open up

You reveal

You... (continue reading)