Where Do You Stand?

Where I Stand

By: Erin

So far in the course of my life

I have stood for many things

These things have often caused me harm and strife

Hurt too, terrible pain, and those harmful things that always sting

My mind would always say:

I should

I would

I could

The truth is….

This is where I stood:

On a mountain of shame and guilt

That I myself built

In an ocean of depression and doubt

Where I stayed silent then acted out

Below a cloud of anger and fear

Words of comfort and hope I could never hear

But today that has begun to slowly change

One foot in front of the other

I move from that dark place to brighter other

That is where I stood

This is where I stand

Here with you

Struggling my way through

Making the decision to do what is hard but right

So that my life may reflect light

Holding on when I want to let go

Knowing it’s okay if I go slow

Walking with others who choose to fight for light too

For what seems impossible for one is possible for a few

So this is where I stand

Fighting my own darkness

Fighting for light

And from where I stand you must know

We WILL be alright

This is where I stand

You choose where you want to be

My hope is that you will see

When it comes to mental illness, strain and strife

The only choice is to stand for life