a question | Teen Ink

a question

February 7, 2019
By faithomahony BRONZE, Greenwood, Arkansas
faithomahony BRONZE, Greenwood, Arkansas
1 article 0 photos 2 comments

a question that will forever beg for breath, beg for life.
in our thoughts and insecurities;
thriving off of achievements and compliments,
am i enough?
will i ever be enough?
everyone agrees and shakes their head yes,
because that’s what they’re supposed to say
that’s what we’re all supposed to say
but words are not the loudest contender here,
actions are.
where are the actions that speak louder than?
the ones that are supposed to show that we are, in fact, enough;
that we’re good enough, important enough to mean something to someone.
to be their first text when the most exciting happens.
to be their first shoulder to cry on when the inevitable occurs.
essential to how there day begins
but also how it ends.
to be there from the start and to the finish.
forever holding their hand and cheering them on.
but here’s the deal.
what if...what if we have given it all too much breath,
too much life?
we’ve given the compliments and thoughts of the world the ability to hold onto the way we view ourselves
we allow it to control our actions and our voices.
to manipulate who we are and where we stand,
and what if that is stopping us from achieving our greatest potential of being exactly that,
enough?


The author's comments:

I struggle with being who I am and seeing myself as enough. I want to impress every person I meet and leave a lasting impression. I want them to remember me because my longest lasting fear is being forgotten and pushed away. If I'm not enough for my friends, how will I ever be enough to the world? But it got to the point where I realized that I am entirely too focused on BEING enough, that I ruin my chances of being exactly that.  


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This article has 2 comments.


AceAnne BRONZE said...
on Dec. 31 2020 at 2:12 am
AceAnne BRONZE, Morrison, Colorado
3 articles 3 photos 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Well, my friends praise me and make me look like an idiot, while my enemies tell me straightforwardly that I am an idiot. My enemies help me understand myself better, which is an advantage, and my friends help me lie about myself, which is a disadvantage. So if four negatives make two affirmatives, I’m worse off because of my friends and better off because of my foes." - Shakespeare's Twelfth Night

This is a beautiful piece. I especially love your opening line. Also, I feel the same. The only problem is you'll think you've finally broken the pattern until the tiniest comment or carless action shatters you and you'll fall back into that hopeless, lonely feeling. While, yes, I admit this is one of those late-night, too-upset-to-sleep comments, I just want you to know that you aren't alone in your feelings, and you ARE enough. People are sometimes too caught up in making sure they themselves are enough that they forget to make the people around them feel how much they are valued. That's why I feel like the best cure for feeling like you aren't enough is to go out of your way and do your best to make sure everyone around you feels like they are enough. Take everything you wish other people would do for you and do it for them. I have no doubt that by treating other people exactly how you would want them to treat you would be not only gratifying and make you feel as though you were making a difference, but it may also make them want to do the same for you. Now I know this sounds like a cheesy ripple-effect idea but just typing this has made me feel more content and optimistic about life. That's why I'm going to challenge you, if you read this, to go read another piece and comment on it, ending the comment with the same challenge I'm giving you.

AceAnne BRONZE said...
on Dec. 31 2020 at 2:11 am
AceAnne BRONZE, Morrison, Colorado
3 articles 3 photos 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Well, my friends praise me and make me look like an idiot, while my enemies tell me straightforwardly that I am an idiot. My enemies help me understand myself better, which is an advantage, and my friends help me lie about myself, which is a disadvantage. So if four negatives make two affirmatives, I’m worse off because of my friends and better off because of my foes." - Shakespeare's Twelfth Night

This is a beautiful piece. I especially love your opening line. Also, I feel the same. The only problem is you'll think you've finally broken the pattern until the tiniest comment or carless action shatters you and you'll fall back into that hopeless, lonely feeling. While, yes, I admit this is one of those late-night, too-upset-to-sleep comments, I just want you to know that you aren't alone in your feelings, and you ARE enough. People are sometimes too caught up in making sure they themselves are enough that they forget to make the people around them feel how much they are valued. That's why I feel like the best cure for feeling like you aren't enough is to go out of your way and do your best to make sure everyone around you feels like they are enough. Take everything you wish other people would do for you and do it for them. I have no doubt that by treating other people exactly how you would want them to treat you would be not only gratifying and make you feel as though you were making a difference, but it may also make them want to do the same for you. Now I know this sounds like a cheesy ripple-effect idea but just typing this has made me feel more content and optimistic about life. That's why I'm going to challenge you, if you read this, to go read another piece and comment on it, ending the comment with the same challenge I'm giving you.