As a child

we are able to be ourselves 

not worry about judgment 

we have innocence 

no care in the world 

 

As a teen

we learn 

that if we are ourselves 

we get judged 

bullied 

pushed around 

we then have to put on a mask 

and only trust some with our true selves 

but sometimes 

the people that we trust and open up too 

are the ones that hurt us the most 

 

As an adult 

we gain knowledge

in accepting ourselves

we learn to love ourselves

as soon as we do this

we are able to love others

land grow as a person