The moon shines even when it’s a sliver – do you?

I am SO blessed! One of my dear Nia students had heard about the difficult time I had with my health earlier this year and she took a moment after class last week to tell me how much she appreciates that I’m back teaching. She said some other lovely things that really touched me, and later in the day, I felt compelled to text her with sincere thanks for taking the time to tell me that I matter and make a difference. (My phone was glitching and I couldn’t call out!)
My expression of gratitude led us to a lovely text conversation and she sent me this very beautiful poem by Angi Sullins that I immediately knew I wanted to share with you:
the next time
you refuse to sing
because you’ll never
fill a stadium
or decline the joy of dance
for fear of looking
ridiculous
or you resist risking
the new adventure
because you’re
not entirely ready or
you dim your shine
because you’re not
completely healed and whole
the next time
you hold yourself suspect
because you’re not
entirely qualified
just remember
a bird doesn’t sing
because it’s talented
a bird sings because
it has a song
the moon doesn’t only shine
when it’s whole
it can show up with
a single sliver of itself
and still light an entire
night sky
show up. sing. shine.
the world needs you
as you are.
I found this poem very powerful. It spoke to something I’ve often been guilty of… not doing something because I wasn’t ‘good enough’ or ‘ready enough’. Man! Life is too short to let fear of falling ‘short’ stop us from doing what we want to do! We are here to experience all the joys (and miseries) that this life has to offer. We are here to share all of who we are, as we are. There’s no point in holding back…. After all, a bird doesn’t sing because it’s talented, a bird sings because it has a song!
At times, I have been guilty of hiding my light, of not shining because I felt like a ‘sliver’ of myself… but the moon shines, regardless whether it’s whole or a sliver of itself. And I am committing to shine my light, no matter how big or small I may judge it to be…
How about you? Are you willing to be okay with being who you are, exactly as you in this moment? I’d love to hear your thoughts about this. You can write to us at info@shindao.com or call 403-285-5266.
Here’s to showing up, singing and shining!!
adventure angi sullins birds choice dance gratitude moon Nia Shin Dao sing Tina Thrussell
One Response
Thanks for the reminder. Lovely poem. Ines