The Things I Wanted to Be

I want to have the strength to stand tall,
even when I feel broken. 
I want others to see me as strong and brave
even if I see myself as small and weak.
I want others to see me as bold and fearless
even if I see myself as broken and scared.

This has been my journey;
to climb mountains,
to travel the world,
to run races,
all as a way to prove
to myself that I had strength,
that I had fearlessness,
that I could be bold and daring.

I have spent all of this energy,
all of this effort and
all of this time
to simply prove myself
to myself.
For I just had to know,
with absolute certainty,
that I could be
all the things I wanted to be.

Where I am now, it is possible for me
to know myself to be strong and brave
even if others see me as small and weak.
I can know myself to be bold and fearless,
even if others see me as broken and scared.
And I know I have the strength to stand tall,
even when I feel broken.