I am five feet, two and a half inches tall. I weigh one hundred and ten pounds. I am a small person. But I am big.
I think the size of a person should not be measured by their height or stature. It should not be measured by physical appearance at all (few things should be). I think the size of a person should be determined by their spirit. By their aspirations, their thoughts and opinions, their views, their dreams. The size of a person should not be determined by how big they are in front of you, but by how much of an impact they leave on you.
I am five feet two and a half inches tall, I weigh one hundred and ten pounds. But I am big.
I have travelled. I have walked some of the oldest streets and seen lively new cities. I have lived in five different countries and I have learned – in and out of a classroom. I have experienced things that no one else has experienced in the same way, and others have experienced many things I never have.
I have dreams. Hopes to one day have a career. Plans to travel more, and travel often. I have goals I aspire to and experiences to leave in my past. I have a past. A road less travelled by, but well travelled by me. Some paths that shaped me and some paths I wish I had never stumbled upon. Those paths shaped me too. I have a past that has made me who I am, and a future that I strive towards.
I have words. I use them when I can but mostly they use me. They flow out of me as midnight ramblings and cross-country musings. They shape me more than I shape them.
I have talents. Some stronger than others and some I am not even aware of yet. I have skills that I can boast of and weaknesses that I try to improve upon. I have faults. Many faults. But my strength is in admitting them.
I have friends. Not everyone may want to be with me, but the friends that I have do. They choose to spend their time with me, choose to trust me with their friendship as I trust them with mine. Some admire me, some want to help me, some barely know me, some love me. Not everyone needs to love me, but the people I care about care about me. For the most part.
I am not saying this to be conceited. I do not wish to paint an elevated picture of myself. I am saying this because I think confidence is important. Focusing on your own strengths is much more productive than tearing yourself down one flaw at a time.
I know people that are medium sized. They think more than they act. They talk about dreams that they do not work towards, they make promises they do not keep.
I know people that are small. They’re narrow minded with simple ambitions. They do not believe in themselves or, sometimes, they believe themselves better than others.
And I know people that are giant. Bigger than their skin, bigger than their past; as large as any dreams that they are working towards.
I have met many people in my short lifetime: it’s the big ones that leave an impact.
Be big.
