I Intend To Reach Out and Touch The Sky

~My Annotation of Nelson Mandela's poem...

“Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate,
but that we are powerful beyond measure.”
I am not quite sure about these first lines. I think I do deal with feelings of inadequacy sometimes. I sometimes feel I could do better or be better. Wake up earlier, go to bed earlier, work harder, be smarter, and be nicer, less judgmental, more intuitive, more accountable…I could go on and on but I think the point is clear. So what did Mandela mean? I thought about it a little more and I think the fact that I am powerful beyond measure is more of a disappointment for me because I know I am nowhere near performing at my potential. I could be better.

“It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?”
Yup! For sure! Is it really my portion to be special? Am I supposed to make a difference? Am I supposed to do anything extraordinary? Should I dream big AND go through with it? Should I take these big steps? What is my shoe size? Is it possible to blow myself out of proportion?

“Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.”
I SHOULD be my father’s daughter. I should let the magnitude of his glory shine through in me. Let the world see me and recognize who my father is.

"Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you."
Love it…
"We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone."
Haaaa…
"And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same."
I’ve heard this said many times but for the first time it really comes home for me. I’ve been inspired by other people and their work has motivated me to do my thing.

"As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others."
These people have in essence empowered me, showed me that I could be more and push me to be more.