I Met a Man

I’m not sure of the protocol of entering my own Challenge, but this seemed like the appropriate place for this:

I Met a Man

I met a man.

He saw my fear.

The dark shadow over me.

He saw my confusion.

And he smiled.

“Stand up,” commanded the man, raising me from my inner mind, where I cowered in solitude.

“Why do you cower?”

“I’m afraid,” I said.

“Of what might come. And also, what might not come to pass.”

“Then protect yourself,” he said

“But not by curling up in a ball and hiding away.”

“Then, how?” I replied

“I usually hide in a corner of my head where no-one can find me. Until the danger goes away.”

“No, no ,no,” replied the man.

“Corners are dark. You must shine. Inspire. Overcome!”

“Tell me how.”

And he did:

Make your ‘Stone of Life’.

It will be your centre. Your rock. Your anchor.

Make it from things to make you strong :

Honesty; Resilience; Self-care; Humour.

Engrave it with the ability to say ‘No’ and ‘Not Yet’.

Carve it from your values – immovable.

Around your Stone of Life, build your world.

Be Measured. Be Strong. Be Soft. Be Firm.

This is how to protect yourself.

To keep yourself safe.

“Yes,” I blinked.

“But if I am attacked? How will this protect me?”

“Well,” explained the man, “listen and I will tell.”

And he did:

It will keep you You.

Resolute and Strong.

And then.

You Radiate!

Radiate Love.

Radiate Power.

Radiate Belief.

And

Radiate Conviction.

You will glow, like a bursting star.

The darkness will not touch you,

As you hold your head high, raise up your arms and proclaim: I Am Me!

I Am Me!

And I Am Mighty!

He smiled.

I smiled back.

“So do not cower,” said the man,

“In hidden corners. Shadowed in darkness even before the darkness comes, hiding your worth from the worthless.”

I smiled.

He smiled back.

And I glowed.