The Funeral

Maya Angelou was quoted saying “When you know better, you do better!”

  Unworthy, low self-esteem, ungratefulness, unforgiveness, envious, broken-spirited and broken-
hearted, sad, depressed, controlling, hopeless, ashamed, condemed, unhappy and a victim.

   For most of my life, I’ve donned mask after mask.  I’ve created and worn beautiful, ornate and
oftentimes, very convincing masks.  I many times chose masks that resembled courage, love,
strength and self-respect, afraid of revealing to the world the hidden pain and emotions that have
held me captive within the essence of my own soul.  Whether choosing to wear a mask of
confidence to disguise the low self esteem that materialized as a result of internalizing the
traumatic words from a loved one or perhaps the low self-worth that festered from years of
sexual abuse as a young child.  Regardless of the reason, there are times in our lives that it is
much easier to hide behind a mask then it is to deal with the state of our sordid realities. My
prayer for you in 2018, is that you finally make the definitive decision to live a life full and rich
with intention, purpose and fullfillment.  Make a concisous and concerted choice to no longer be
a prisoner of your past or a passenger to pain. Choose to be bold, to be beautiful, and to be
unapologetically you.
As for me, my innumerable collection of masks, along with the years of anquish and silent
suffering were jubilantly funeralized and buried today.   My future feels promising. 
Invulnerable, authentic, brave, worthy, emancipated, self-accepting, joyful, loving, fortified,
grateful, overcoming, purposeful, uplifited, chosen and VICTORIOUS!

He who conceals his disease cannot expect to be cured

• Ethiopian proverb.

When one conceals their disease from themselves, they can never begin to get well or change behaviors needed
for their healing.

Unworthy, low self-esteem, ungratefulness, unforgiveness, envious, broken-spirited and broken-
hearted, sad, depressed, controlling, hopeless, ashamed, condemned, unhappy and a victim.
For most of my life, I’ve donned mask after mask. I’ve created and worn beautiful, ornate and
oftentimes, very convincing masks. Many times, I chose masks that resembled courage, love,
strength, and self-respect, afraid of revealing to the world the hidden pain and emotions that have
held me captive within the essence of my own soul. Whether choosing to wear a mask of
confidence to disguise the low self-esteem that materialized as a result of internalizing the
traumatic words from a loved one or perhaps the low self-worth that festered from years of
sexual abuse as a young child. Regardless of the reason, there are times in our lives that it is
much easier to hide behind a mask then it is to deal with the state of our sordid realities. My
prayer for you in 2018, is that you finally make the definitive decision to live a life rich with
intention, purpose, and fulfillment. Make a conscious and concerted choice to no longer be a
prisoner of your past or a passenger to pain. Choose to be bold, to be beautiful, and to be
unapologetically you.

As for me, my innumerable collection of masks, along with the years of anguish and silent
suffering were jubilantly funeralized and buried today. My future feels promising. Invulnerable,
authentic, brave, worthy, emancipated, self-accepting, joyful, loving, fortified, grateful,
overcoming, purposeful, uplifted, chosen and VICTORIOUS!