I will not be beaten down

I will not be beaten down by my hormones, by the sinister slippery way they convince me I’m not worthy.
I will not be beaten down by time, by the rush and the panic and never-enough.
I will not be beaten down by my own expectations, by thinking I should be something when I already am so much.
I will not be beaten down by others’ expectations, by how their judgments of my situation reveals more about theirs.
I will not be beaten down by my inner critic, for it is only fear that comes out of her mouth.
I will not be beaten down by that fear, by how I purposely trip myself up when things are going well.
I will not be beaten down by the shoulds, because that way disappointments lies.
I will not be beaten down by the past, because it no longer needs to define my future.
I will not be beaten down by myself, because when all is said and done, I am my greatest ally.

* This Polaroid is one of the three featured on the cover of my book :)

November 16, 2011 in Unravelling | Permalink Comments (28)

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Posted by: Jo | November 16, 2011 at 11:43 am

You will be held up by your big, big heart and your friends who adore you :)

xx
Posted by: sushi lover | November 16, 2011 at 11:49 am

:D Exactly! Be strong!
Posted by: Mel | November 16, 2011 at 11:59 am

Can I sign this manifesto somewhere? I would seriously.
Posted by: Sarah | November 16, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Awww hon..that was beautiful! I love that I find your posts on Twitter. Huge hugs to you, Sarah
Posted by: celine | November 16, 2011 at 12:04 pm

hell yeah!
so very inspired
Posted by: Zarina Ávila | November 16, 2011 at 12:21 pm

Pure poetry! You’re right: We are our best allies!
Posted by: Catalina | November 16, 2011 at 12:23 pm

love this!!!!!!

when all that comes to me……i just breath!

love
Posted by: Catalina | November 16, 2011 at 12:24 pm

and the picture is lovely! lot of beauty together
Posted by: patti scanlon | November 16, 2011 at 12:45 pm

Thanks to you I will not be beaten down either. much love to you.
Posted by: Meg Manion Silliker | November 16, 2011 at 12:59 pm

words to live by. words to remember. xoxo
Posted by: elizabeth | November 16, 2011 at 1:15 pm

amen, sister.

words I need (dare I say we ALL need) to live by.

oh, and you look pretty today! just saying– xoxo
Posted by: Helen | November 16, 2011 at 1:26 pm

Thank you for this post, very very wise words to live by.
Posted by: Carrie | November 16, 2011 at 1:26 pm

This is why, with or without a camera or pen in my hand… you will always be my teacher. Thank you for this, Susannah. You are such a ROCK STAR!!
Posted by: Barbara | November 16, 2011 at 1:41 pm

me, too, I want to sign this manifiesto…I suffer PMS, too and it´s becoming worse with the years (I am 38 now)…thank you for sharing this!
The last month it was so bad I almost suffered a nervous breakdown.
Posted by: blueberry | November 16, 2011 at 2:07 pm

I love this! It’s exactly what I need to be reminded of more often! I’m going to write this on a sheet of paper and put it in a frame on my wall! Thank you so much! :)
Posted by: LaToya | November 16, 2011 at 3:07 pm

AMEN!!!
Posted by: michelle | November 16, 2011 at 3:29 pm

agreed!

<3
Posted by: Kinga Subject | November 16, 2011 at 4:18 pm

I so needed this. All of it! Thank You!
Posted by: Christian | November 16, 2011 at 5:34 pm

Perfect!!!! Beautiful.
Posted by: Nina | November 17, 2011 at 12:54 am

yeah
Posted by: Sweet Life Farm | November 17, 2011 at 2:42 am

Oh Yes! I so needed to read those first two sentences! Thank YOU!
Posted by: Roxanne Galpin | November 17, 2011 at 3:01 am

Love this. And what a beautiful pic.
Posted by: Jill Kane | November 17, 2011 at 4:16 am

thanks for this, susannah :) i, too, really needed to read this today. some days are, well, just some days. . . not so great. i love the part about being your best ally. that is to be treasured :) xoxox
Posted by: Meg Roper | November 17, 2011 at 8:47 am

You are speaking for many of us here! Gorgeous photo, by the way. Virtual hugs.
Posted by: Catherine Just | November 17, 2011 at 4:53 pm

This is Stunning. The words, the photo, everything about it. Stunning. Breathtaking. Raw. Real. I’m posting it on my blog with a link back to this website. I want even MORE people to see this. Love to you sweetness.
Posted by: michelle gd | November 18, 2011 at 12:15 am

susannah, this is touching and raw and beautiful. such power in your words…so good to come to this today. the photo is lovely as well.
my goodness…
Posted by: Colette | November 20, 2011 at 5:41 am

Gosh, I love this picture and I am so moved by these words. LOVE love LUV
Posted by: Juli | November 23, 2011 at 4:21 am

So beautiful, Susannah.