Turning Off and Freezing UP:

Where did the passion go?
I believe I copied this from a book I once read. Must have been fitting at the time I was doing some writing for me to jot it down, so I decided to post it!
Turn myself off and just go on automatic.
We don't realize how turned off we've been until we try to turn back on again and discover that we can't find the switch.
For all the courage I have shown in my life, there have been as many moments (for me-more moments) when I've kept silent out of fear. For all the love I feel for myself (I DON'T love myself), there have been many moment when I've allowed other to treat me without kindness. For all the vision and clarity I posses, there have been as many moments when, hoping to avoid conflict and loss, I have closed my eyes to the truth.
Locked away-lost emotions, hidden dreams, forgotten longings, self-respect and faith.
We spend so much time trying to protect ourselves from hurt and loss, worrying about what other people could do to us, or take from us, when in fact we are the "thief" who is most likely to steal from ourselves.
When we turn out and turn off, we rob ourselves of those things that are most valuable-our dreams, our feelings, our love, our aliveness. The self-perpetuated theft is a loss that costs us more dearly than we can imagine, for we have stolen from ourselves that which is more precious and essential than anything we think others have ever taken from us.
We are free to move, but too often we don't. We are free to reach out and touch our loved ones, but too often we pull away. We are free to speak, but too often we remain silent.
We are free, but we freeze up.