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The first time I ever heard the 3 words together to make a statement. I was a Freshman Acting major at Pace University. The chairman of my department and then teacher told us a 3 word statement on the first day of class. He said, "if you get anything from my class during this semester is that"...:
"You Are Enough"
As the Type A personality that I am, I wrote the words down, but they didn't resonate. I couldn't understand how I could be enough. What did that mean? Until now.
The mantra I now call it, or statement is repeated amongst the acting world globally, at least I would hope so. Though it is a statement teachers bring to their students, I believe it is a mantra. It should be stamped onto all of us to remember and hold on to.
You might ask if you haven't already clicked the page, why is this important? Because, as Poet Paul Laurence Dunbar wrote, We Wear The Mask.
Paul Laurence Dunbar's poem reflects the struggles faced by African Americans. Yes, I strongly relate to how this poem resonates within the black community, but I always saw the words on how it reflects humanity and not only a culture but who we are individually.
We Wear the Mask, 1896. Published in his book Lyrics of Lowly Life
We wear the mask that grins and lies, It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,— This debt we pay to human guile; With torn and bleeding hearts we smile, And mouth with myriad subtleties.
Why should the world be over-wise, In counting all our tears and sighs? Nay, let them only see us, while We wear the mask.
We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries To thee from tortured souls arise. We sing, but oh the clay is vile Beneath our feet, and long the mile; But let the world dream otherwise, We wear the mask!
It is because of society that we are told who to be. How we should behave and talk. I believe that fails us a creative beings, it makes and keeps us in being a prisoner.
It is our uniqueness that separates each individual, I don't know about you but I don't want to conform myself to the world.
No matter what you are and do you are enough.
Accept yourself, Accept your beliefs, Your ideas, and Be You.