Who You Are (by a 16 year old girl in pain recovery)

Everyone of us has a story to tell—some of us have risen—others fell. Within each person—inside their ribs, behind their eyes, each one has a secret—there their story lies. No matter their color, their hair, their size, their figure, their skin, the shade of their beautiful eyes; each has a story—as significant as another’s –whether “good”, or “bad”, or one you’d like to cover.

Remember dear soul, don’t you ever forget, look ahead to your future—the one you haven’t met yet. You are a human, a living, breathing soul—with free will to love, to hate, to console. But with the gift of life, in all its essence—inevitably comes pain, tears, frustration. But remember you are not your pain, and you are not your tears. You will never be your hurt—nor your fears. You are you, and the only one of you—you can never be duplicated, you can never be two. You are a person, a living, conscious being, having desires and wants and opinions and feelings.

You have grown eyes, gray eyes, green, hazel, blue—maybe you have eyes of midnight, or violet on you. Maybe your skin is black or dark brown—maybe copper or “peach”—every person, yellow, tan or white—it’s a beauty to each. Your hair may be white, maybe brown, black or blonde. It could be of red, or gold maybe—a feature of which you deserve to be fond. You are so many things, how can I ever relate? All of you—each of you—you are your fate.

Maybe you like to build, make music or paint. Some of you like to draw, or make words—whether strong, moving, poetic or faint. You like music, you like movies, you like to hike, read or sleep. You have dreams of your future, maybe diaries you keep. You have so many emotions, so much essence and beauty—maybe one day you’ll be a jewel across the sky shooting.

So lift your head precious one, gaze upon your beauty inside and outside—and you, the one reading this poem—in you I’ll confide, that life is not easy—we’ve been humiliated and scared, betrayed, hurt and scarred—it’s hell trying to love through it, when our past is so marred. It’s easy to forget who you are on the inside. It’s easy to beat yourself, till you lose all your pride. It’s easy to shut yourself out from the world—looking through a glass, an invisible force field. You may seek isolation in your cold, lonely world—locking your door, crying on your bed, your head in a whirl. And while solitude is refreshing when balanced, it’s never the answer—it presents more of a challenge.

Don’t lock yourself up, don’t forget who you are, don’t stand at a distance, don’t dwell on your scars. But I know how you feel, innocent young one, I’ve been through it too. I know what it’s like to wake up sad and hurting, depressed—not wanting food. I know what it’s like to feel everything at once—like you’re going to blow up, like you can’t last another day—like you’re going to throw up. To be confused and frustrated and not to know why—to be furious, to feel crazy, to cry and to cry. I know what it feels like, and it sucks to be in it—I’ve felt it, I’ve breathed it, and all of a sudden, I’ve been hit with it. And it hurts and it’s awful and it’s so hard to take. We know from experience—life’s NOT a piece of cake. But it’s not all gloom and doom either—because we can get past it. We can raise our heads, and in time get through it—like magic. Because look—you are strong—see, look, you’re still here. And you will continue to be here—you still have years.

Soon it won’t be a nightmare, just a mere scar—over time it no longer hurts—see! You’ve come so far! Don’t stop now, keep going—don’t stop. You’re still working your way back up to the top. You have pride, you are a most beautiful person—use it, admire it, you have every reason. You’ve made it through the cloud—storms don’t last forever. Carry on now, be brave—feel worthless again NEVER.

NEVER LET GO BEAUTIFUL YOUNG PEOPLE—WE HAVE SO MUCH LIFE YET TO LIVE.


© 2003-2005 Children’s Advocacy Services of Greater St. Louis (CASGSL)