Are you hiding & afraid of being not too much too?

I walked to school and back since I was six: 5 miles (3,5km) each way.

I liked the forest and knew every tree in it, however in the dark those same trees turned into a potential monster or were hiding one.

To cheer myself up and as well to scare the monsters away I was singing loud as I walked home.
I was convinced if I radiated confidence and fearlessness the monsters would see that I'm not scared and won't come close to me.

And the road seemed much shorter too and I was having fun.

But then something happened and I changed.
I learned shame.
It crippled me and it shut me down.
I felt ashamed of myself.

I believed it was safer to be quiet, so I don't provoke the monsters.
And so, I wouldn't sing anymore and instead was sneaking as quiet as possible while listening to and being terrified by every little noise.

And so I took this habit with me outside the forest.
I was hiding.

Feeling terrible in my skin, afraid to show my emotions and who I was.

I believed I had to be strong so I put that mask on me.

Life itself seemed like that dark forest full of monsters.

And I would try to hide and be careful not to do anything that could drive an attention to me.

I turned into a doormat and had no idea what I wanted, or wouldn't dare to listen to myself (with some exceptions, thankfully).

I wouldn't appreciate and share my talents and constantly would be on guard of every step I took.

It took many years to get reed of shame and heal the wounds.
In fact, I still am "dealing" with it.

How about you?
Are you daring to be You?
Are you daring to be that radiant, amazing, unique, beautiful human you were born to be?