I love to read biographies. It is my absolute favorite genre as I find that the lives that people really live are often far more fascinating than any fictional story out there. So many people live lives that challenge, inspire, and motivate me to do more, be more, and appreciate more. One of those such people is Nelson Mandela. I recently read a quote of his and I feel the need to share it. He said,
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be fabulous, brilliant, talented, gorgeous? Actually, who are you not to be, you are a child of God and your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, like children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in every one of us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give people permission to do the same. As we are liberated by our fears, our presence automatically liberates others."
Thank you Mr. Mandela for the life that you chose to live. Thank you for choosing inspiration instead of defeat. May we all do the same. You have inspired me.
I wrote a memoir about 3 years ago and I'm currently in the process of trying to publish it.
