i have come across many who oppose the idea
of feelings

people who oppose the idea that feelings are to be felt
or that our behaviour and reactions are not a result of a feeling

they argue people have a choice
they can be felt
they can be ignored
or they can simply not exist

i hesitate to judge those who do
as it takes immense mental and moral strength or power to refuse something so bound to who we are

as a body
a spirit
a mind
and a soul

and yet still able
to fight the robust force of feelings
deemed at the great apprehension of fear itself

i feel
and i have learnt to feel
through the pain i have borne

i wanted a rock to replace my soul
and so it had

i have been broken
i have been defeated
i have fallen victim to weakness
paralysis
fear

but hear i stand
proud

i learnt to feel
to properly feel
i thank my pain for that

i still break
i still fall
and there are some days whelmed with a battle to survive

but i am not weak
i am not defeated
i am no longer a slave to my pain

to feel is to fight
to feel is what makes you a warrior
it is what makes you human
it is what connects you to your inner self
your soul
your within

it is how you learn to love yourself
it is how you learn to believe in yourself
it is how you learn to conquer

my dear

please do not be afraid