I know this               it is impossible to please everyone
                               it always was
                               it always will be

I know this               nobody will always be happy
                               They face disappointment and
                               They all periodically feel disgust

I know this               it’s not something you did

I think                     our actions are not universally stellar

I think                     the need to please comes from roots of self-doubt

                              We just happen to recognize others’ satisfaction as our dominating                                  incentive

(It is our loss.)
We need                  to listen to ourselves
We need                  to hear the scream of our subconscious
We need                  to respect the grace of disappointment                                                                          of two contrasting forces

I know                    strength does not always come from reassurance
I know                    negative feedback promotes independence
I know                    humans must face obstacles and confront disapproval to find                                                      validity in self-worth

We need disfavor to define our identities.

                 We need to be challenged... We deserve to be challenged.

We owe it to ourselves to re-create our motives.

                 And find a refined peace among our minds.

Paint Me bold.                            Paint Me unique.                            Paint Me Delaney.

                                                   I am a poet.

Adaptation of poem written by Nikki Giovanni