The Pretender Inside Us!

Rachel Norrington sharing her poem for the first time at an open mic poetry evening

This is a poem written by myself to capture the journey of letting go of the pretender mask

The pretender inside us!  By Rachel Norrington

I am a pretender, since age 4,

These masks keep me safe,

I was born limitless but I have learnt these stories to keep me safe,

If I people please, I will be liked,

If everything is perfect, I’ll never get found out,

If I tell myself I’m surrounded by fools I will better,

If I tell myself I’m not good enough I will never fail.

I’m stuck in a loop of procrastination, unable to make a decision and tired from saying yes when I want to say no,

I see the world through a stained-glass window, always keeping me safe

That loud voice in my head never stops talking, it’s on repeat.

I’m a pretender never breaking the patterns that hold me back,

These masks keep me safe,

I’m stuck!

One day that quiet voice inside starts to get louder,

It’s a voice that’s familiar but I’m not quite sure why?!

Those masks I wear no longer feel right,

I wonder what it would feel like to let that quiet voice speak/!

I tell the good, the bad and the ugly of my life from birth to present,

Those moments in time being made conscious,

Event havening removing the pin,

Those landmines no longer able to trigger.

The beautiful limitless light brings new colour,

As the light connects with a younger me,

Shining over the bridge into the future as we become one.

So, slowly I start to peel away each layer of the stained glass window to what it’s like to remove the mask,

At first it’s uncomfortable with a push me pull me,

The more I step forward the better it feels.

As I remember the real me and step into alignment,

The energy zings as I haven and speak:

I am kind

I am brave

I am strong

I am learning

I am inspirational

I am good enough

I am me!

Those masks these days I wear less and less but they are still there for those times when it feels right,

To keep those boundaries in place.

I’m embodying me,

I walk with confidence and with purpose,

As I create the life I love and flourish!