An Inspiration to Shine

A year ago, I'd watched this very inspiring film, "Akeelah and the Bee." It tells the story of an 11-year-old black student facing obstacles at home and school, and her struggle to fulfill her young dream. On one of its unforgettable scenes, the spelling-bee-coach (portrayed by Laurence Fishburne) told Akeelah, the spelling-bee-finalist (played by Keke Palmer) to read the quotation hanging on the wall. It was actually the inspiring words taken from Marianne Williamson's poem entitled, "Our Deepest Fear." It reads...

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest 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 brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?" Actually, "Who are you not to be?" You are a child of God. 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, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

After reading, Akeelah finally learned her greatest lesson; to be not afraid of oneself and to be the best one can be. On a personal note , it has become one of my inspirations in living my life to the fullest!