I'M Not In the Space

"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom." Victor Frankl There's a battle in me regarding authenticity I exude it, for better or worse Or maybe I don't I might be coated with layer upon layer of acceptability From all the times people said I was weird Or couldn't fathom my thought processes I am scaffolded and shackled by sensible decisions Decisions I took so that my life never played out down the 'poor kid' track If I pause and consider how to respond, is that more or less me? In that space I can avoid mistakes But neither space nor spontaneity feel truly me This poem won't end in growth and freedom Not because I don't have the scope But because I fear I am my own enemy With space I restrict With spontaneity I chastise I'm all out of options I should have chose a different quote