All I have is my pen and my paper, When the words won’t come, and silence screams, I turn to the page, where I can breathe, Where thoughts spill out like shattered dreams.
My mouth is tight, my voice feels small, But in the ink, I can steal it all— The clutter, the noise, the endless fight, Bouncing words like shadows in the night.
They tell me to be alone, to forget the past, To learn to love myself, make it last. But how can I, when doubt wears me thin? I fight a war inside, unsure where to begin.
Imposter syndrome, cold and real, Makes me question the woman I feel— I know who I am, but the fear runs deep, I’m Shavesha Steele, but can I even keep The strength I’ve built, the life I’ve made, When doubt’s grip keeps me afraid?
I am more than the weight I carry, More than the scars that still make me wary, Even when the world says, “You’re not enough,” I will rise, even if it’s hard, even when it’s rough.
Share a lesson you wish you had learned earlier in life.
A Lesson I Wish I Had Learned Earlier in Life
Looking back, the one lesson I wish I’d learned much sooner in life—or rather, that my parents should have instilled in me—was the burden of constantly “wearing a mask.” For years, I found interacting with people utterly exhausting, and I couldn’t figure out why. Now I realize it was because I was never truly being myself. I was always hiding behind a façade, pretending to be who I thought others wanted me to be. I wasn’t just afraid of being open or vulnerable—I was conditioned to believe that being myself was somehow wrong. Every time I showed my true self, it was met with criticism or disapproval, making me retreat even further behind the mask.
In my downtime, I finally felt at peace. Alone, I could drop the act, and for a moment, I could just be—no expectations, no pressure to live up to anyone else’s standards. I didn’t have to worry about disappointing anyone or feeling like I wasn’t enough. It was a brief but liberating escape from the constant performance I put on in front of others.
But what I wish I had understood earlier is how deeply I had tied my sense of self-worth to the attention of others. I equated attention with love, care, and approval. If someone wasn’t giving me their attention, I assumed it meant their feelings toward me had changed. That lack of attention made me feel insecure, like I wasn’t enough without their validation.
I see now how damaging that mindset was. It kept me in a cycle of seeking external validation instead of finding it within myself. I wish I had realized sooner that love isn’t about constant attention. True love, real care, doesn’t have to be flashy or always visible. And more importantly, the validation I was chasing from others was something I should’ve been giving myself all along.
If I could go back, I would teach my younger self that you don’t need anyone’s approval to feel worthy. I’d tell myself to take off the mask, to stop pretending, and to trust that I am enough as I am—without needing to perform for others. I wish I had learned earlier that it’s okay to be vulnerable, and that real connection comes from showing up authentically, not from trying to be perfect or constantly seeking attention.
The sooner we learn to love and accept ourselves, the sooner we can experience genuine peace and fulfillment. I wish I hadn’t waited so long to embrace this truth, but I’m grateful that I’ve finally learned it now.
But hey, better late than never, right? So, here’s to unmasking, embracing the awkwardness, and learning to just be me.
Until you’ve walked in another’s shoes, You’ll never know the depth of their blues, Surrounded by faces, yet so alone, In a constant state, always on the roam.
Body feels numb, a chilling embrace, I want to feel something, but can’t find a trace. Told myself I’m strong, that I won’t succumb, But the weight of it all, has me feeling numb.
I feel everything, but it's all too much, Heavy on my heart, a ceaseless touch. I long to escape, but the path is unclear, Trapped in this zone, with no end near.
Her rare interior so smooth and delicate But her outside , damaged and crude She’s like the Saturday night blues A few hits and now’s she’s on snooze Oh, my dear wonda, if only they knew The beauty that lies within you If only they could see The strength and grace you possess Instead of judging based on what they see But fear not, wonda I’ll keep your true essence shining through And I'll help you radiate brightly Like the magnificent star that you are
In the void of my mind, you linger, you stay A haunting presence that won't go away Absent in flesh, but present in spirit A constant reminder of all that I fear
Your whispers, like knives, cut deep in my soul Aching, throbbing, taking its toll You're a shadow, a specter, a weight on my chest A never-ending torment that won't let me rest
You cloud my thoughts, distort my perception Leaving me drowning in a sea of deception Your absence suffocates, a crushing despair Leaving me gasping for a breath of fresh air
I try to break free, to escape from your grasp But you're a relentless foe, a never-ending rasp You're the one who is absent, yet always near A constant reminder of my pain and my fear
But I'll keep fighting, even when it's hard I'll find a way to mend my broken heart For though you may linger, torment my mind I'll rise above the pain, leaving you behind.
This poem reflects the struggles of battling with the persistent presence of negative thoughts and emotions. I try to describe feeling haunted by a ghostly presence that lingers in my mind to reflect pain, despair, and a sense of suffocation. Despite the overwhelming weight of these feelings, I express at the end determination to push through the darkness and find a way to rise above the torment. The title "In the Shadows of Sorrow" encapsulates the theme of grappling with inner turmoil and seeking to overcome it as life can weigh us down sometimes it it’s important to know our shadows can be our strengths too
In the depths of despair, a shadow resides, Whispers of doubt, where my heart abides. Why do good things slip away from my reach, Leaving my soul wounded, unable to preach?
I dare not dream, for fear of the fall, Every success, a fleeting, cruel call. A cycle of loss and heartache, it seems, Leaving me broken, adrift in my dreams.
I feel unworthy of joy, of love, of light, As if all good things will vanish from sight. But within me, a voice cries out to believe, That there's hope beyond what I perceive.
I must confront the darkness, the pain, the strife, Embrace the shadows that haunt my life. For even in sorrow, there's a flicker of flame, A promise of healing, of release from shame.
So I'll cling to the hope, despite the despair, And trust that my heart will learn how to repair. Though setbacks may come, I'll rise from the dust, For I am deserving of love, of joy, of trust.
Describe one positive change you have made in your life.
Lately, the changes I’ve been implementing in my life have revolved around the importance of pausing to acknowledge and be grateful for the simple yet significant blessings we often take for granted, like the air we breathe and the opportunities we’re afforded. A quote that has stuck with me is “Let go and let God be.” Despite my ambitions and aspirations, I’ve come to realize that genuine wisdom stems from recognizing that I can’t always control every aspect of life, no matter how much I may wish to do so.
We could be a melody, full of imperfections, Our harmonies blending in unique directions. With each note we play, a new story is told, Creating a symphony, beautiful and bold.
Our rhythms may clash, our tones may not match, But together we create a perfect patchwork. In our discord, there lies a hidden beauty, A song of love, woven with complexity.
So let us embrace our flaws and mistakes, For they are what make our music great. In our imperfections, we find our connection, A melody of love, pure and perfection.
Dose Of Chevvi 