Falling

I wrote this poem while thinking about my long-standing fear of failure. For as long as I can remember, failure has felt like something to avoid at all costs—something that could undo progress, expose weakness, or confirm my worst doubts about myself.

But over time, I’ve started to realize that avoiding failure also means avoiding growth. Without trying, without stumbling, without falling, we never truly learn what we’re capable of. Every lesson worth keeping seems to come from moments that didn’t go as planned.

This poem reflects that shift in perspective. Falling isn’t the opposite of flying—it’s part of it. It’s only when fear loosens its grip that we allow ourselves to rise, to reach for goals we once believed were out of reach. Growth isn’t clean or comfortable, but it’s honest.

If this poem says anything, I hope it’s this: failure doesn’t define us. What defines us is what we learn from it—and whether we’re brave enough to keep going.