Courage

I miss feeling sure and boldly naive,
Before dreams were shattered, before cause to grieve.
Before I was heavy with fear and self doubt,
Before my self-courage and worth had run out.

When challenge felt giddy and easy to bear,
A cause for excitement instead of despair.
When risk felt less risky and consequence distant,
And cruel inner critics were far less persistent.

But when I look harder, the world is no different,
And neither am I.