BECOMING

BECOMING...

I read Michelle Obama’s “BECOMING” back in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. I had just lost my lucrative job and my whole world was at a standstill. In her regal but unassuming way, Michelle patiently explains the concept of “Personal Growth” and the unexpected trajectories of life that steer you towards where you need to be.

She asserts that life is not about striving to attain some perfect state of nirvana but wholeheartedly embracing our rollercoaster earthly pilgrimage. The path to self-discovery begins when we allow ourselves to fail and accept that continuous change is an integral aspect of growth. This is the true essence of a fulfilling life. 

It is not lost to me that this evolutionary process of growth and self-discovery requires a healthy dash of COURAGE. And just to be clear, “courage” as used here, does not refer to the gallant valor of military combat, nor the adrenaline-powered bravado of boxing matches. Nay, this “courage” is the subtle kind... more like the subdued resolve of a broken spirit that adamantly insists, “I will try again tomorrow”.

Before this year, I had never heard of the legend of Kahlil Gibran. Yes, yes, I admit to a mild affliction of academic dwarfism😉. You can imagine my bewildered trance the first time I bumped into, perhaps one of the greatest poems of all time, “FEAR” by Kahlil Gibran. Notwithstanding the bland delivery on some nondescript YouTube channel, this remarkable work of art jolted my attention like a sudden slap across the face.

FEAR is a poem is about the transformative human journey that is fueled by the emotion of fear. Gibran’s poem contends that fear must not be deemed as a dead end, but rather the threshold we must cross in order to evolve into the greatest version of ourselves.

For the audio version of the profound poem, click on the link below:

FEAR - BECOMING THE OCEAN By Kahlil Gibran (YouTube Audio Clip)






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