Taming of the fire

When I was little, I was sure of what I wanted to eat and where I wanted to eat it. My mom is a fantastic cook, and my friend and their parents would do cartwheels for my mom’s Caribbean dishes. But all I wanted was spaghetti, and I wanted to eat it under the dining room table. My mother accepted it, and that’s what I did happily.

I also was an avid reader. I would happily read by myself, in my room, on my Raggedy Ann and Andy sheets. When I was disturbed, I was visibly annoyed. And there was no doubt that I just wanted to get back to reading.

Sometimes I wonder what happened to that fire.

We go through life, wanting to be accepted, trying to be polite, fearing rejection, choosing mediocre — because we might fall short of amazing, so why even try?

And then our fire is tamed.

Have you ever wondered why bitches get exactly what they want? And by bitch, I don’t mean malicious, I mean the women some call bitches because they know what they want, and are unabashed in asking for it.

That is authenticity. That is being true to your needs and passions, without thinking how others will perceive you. It’s freeing. It’s fire.

Would you still want that relationship if everybody else was out of the picture, or because you might feel guilty for releasing someone you’ve known for decades?

Ask yourself, what would you dance to if nobody was watching?

Ignite that fire. I know you had it once. To start, it only takes a spark.