Translated thoughts

I tell myself

You need to stop lowering your standards,
I tell myself
Don't fall down to their level.
I look up at the podium I once stood on and reply,
It's too late. I've already fallen.

I look myself in the eye and say,
Stop refusing to dream in the clouds,
just because you're afraid of tumbling back down to earth.
Stop thinking that you're not good enough,
just because they can't see it
Stop looking for the shells at your feet,
and look out at the ocean instead
Pick up your head and
face the challenges head on

No. Stop. What are you doing?
Why are you backing away?
Why are you constantly standing down?
What are you afraid of? Failure?
When are you going to stop talking the talk,
and start walking the walk?

No one's going to remember all the times you messed up, ok?
And if they do,
then screw them.
You don't want to be around people who
make you doubt yourself.

Listen to me.
You need to stop slacking off.
You're never going to make any progress
if you refuse to try and move forward.

Now, go.