There once lived a girl who liked to dim the light that was shining in her, simply because she was afraid of being too great, she knew it would intimidate some people, more especially the ones in her life, so to avoid being too great, she would belittle herself, play dumb, refuse being called smart and would often say “I’m sure anyone would’ve thought of that” whenever they told her that she had a very creative mind.
She realised at a very young age that she was capable of doing anything she set her mind to, at the age of fifteen she started valuing her alone time more, she preferred being alone than being around people , she had friends yes, however, she loved her own quality time more. For someone that liked being alone, she was surrounded by a lot of people , she was like a magnet, it seemed as if there was something drawing them to her, but she could not figure out what that was because she was an introvert, one of those introverts that become extroverts when surrounded by people they were comfortable with.
Whenever she had encounters with people, they would not part ways with her without mentioning that she gave very good advice, she was inspiring, she should consider writing a book, she knew just the right words to say to put a smile on their faces, some took it as far as saying she should write a book. Deep down she knew they were right, she too knew she was somehow good with people, she knew her words carried a lot of weight, and she wanted to do something about it, something that would reach a lot of people, but her fear of being great would always get in the way, well that all changed when she found a boyfriend.
He would always compliment her, and made her realise how gifted she was. He would always tell her there was nothing wrong with being great, and if anything, if she allowed herself to be unapologetically great, and stopped dimming her light, she would inspire and give courage to more people like her that were controlled by the fear of being great, and that if she wanted to touch lives like she said she did, that was one way of doing it, being herself and doing everything to her fullest potential while letting that light of hers shine as bright as it ever could.
There was something about how he said all those words, they made her turn her life around and be who she was always meant to be. Now she travels the world with her man by her side, inspiring and motivating people, and she is at her happiest.
“As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” Akeelah and The Bee
The Open-Minded 