When Tired of Fighting for A Place

I’m tired of explaining myself every day,

tired of trying to fit in everywhere.

How long do we keep proving

that we are good enough?

How long do we stay silent

while breaking inside?

The world wants applause,

fame, and recognition,

but the heart only wants

a little peace.

Not every victory brings happiness,

not every compliment is real.

Some things only make the face shine,

not the soul.

Not every battle is worth fighting.

Sometimes walking away

is also courage.

Sometimes,

the strongest answer is

silence.

The path of truth is often lonely,

but it is the path

that lets you sleep peacefully at night.

Let go of the need

to always be understood,

to always be praised.

You do not have to become the greatest,

you only have to be genuine.

You do not have to win every battle,

you only have to stay true to your values.

You were not born

to fight for your place all the time.

You were born to take your place,

quietly, with dignity,

without apologizing.

And when your place is earned

through truth and honesty,

no power in the world

can take it away from you.

By

Sanji-Paul Arvind