I was once a shrinking violet

Just a flower on the wall 

I wouldn’t dare ruffle a feather 

Content and happy to stay small 

I was put into a corner 

Didn’t want to take up space

Though I was broken on the inside 

I kept a smile upon my face

I coasted and I tiptoed 

I whispered; I refrained 

I bit my tongue so long 

My teeth will always be blood-stained 

On the outside all was rosy

I even convinced myself 

Glad to sit on the back-burner 

In a box, upon a shelf 

Until one day I cracked wide open 

Unclenched my jaw, opened my eyes 

I found my voice through racing heartbeats 

Spoke my truth through heavy sighs 

And the feeling was so freeing 

That I dared not slow or cease 

For sharing my heart’s stories 

Has truly brought me inner peace 

I have a voice now, and opinions 

I have a backbone, it is strong 

Some no longer recognize me 

But I was in here, all along 

Life is a journey of becoming 

Rearranging as we go 

It’s an epic evolution 

Change is steady, sometimes slow 

But when we try to fight it

Drag our heels and seal our lips 

Life lacks worth and it lacks meaning 

Slipping through our fingertips 

So embrace the you you are now 

Don’t you dare apologize

The ground is sturdy underneath you

There’s no limit in your skies

If we are rigid or embarrassed 

If we let shame box us in 

We will never know the feeling 

Of releasing what’s within 

It will be an uphill venture 

You’ll dodge critics (one is you) 

Just don’t lose your voice or boldness 

No matter what life throws at you