‘When we’ve been told ‘sorry, this table’s full,’ is when we shine best. When we’ve been left out. That’s when we shine.’

“So, you got passed over? So, you got looked over? So, you got left out?

Isn’t that even more reason to show up?

So, you knocked down? So, you got pushed down? So, you got let down?

Isn’t that even more reason to stand up?

So, you failed? So, you fell short? So, you didn’t win the race?

Isn’t that even more reason to keep going? Isn’t that even more reason to prove the haters wrong? Isn’t that even more reason to keep working hard and giving it all you’ve got?

We don’t shine best when we’re standing on the mountaintop. We shine best when we’ve been kicked to the curb, and forgotten, and left alone to burn, and we still choose to fight like hell and rise from the ashes and build our self all over again.

We don’t shine best when we’re popular. We shine best when we’ve been left out, and told ‘sorry, this table’s full,’ and we choose to get out our hammer and nails and build a new table and include everyone who has ever been left standing on the outside of the circle begging for an invitation.

We don’t shine best when things are easy. We don’t shine best when the roads are pre-paved and already cleared for us.

We shine best when life is hard, and we don’t let it harden us.

We shine best when life isn’t good, and we work to stay good.

We shine best when life is tough, and we get tougher. We shine best when life is gritty, and we get grittier. We shine best when life tries to break us down, and we break through like an absolute beast instead.

Gold isn’t much to look at before it’s refined. It’s pretty dull. It lacks depth.

Gold gets refined in the fire. Gold gets refined when things get heated. Gold gets refined when things get uncomfortable.

Gold doesn’t shine until it’s sure it can’t handle anymore flames, and it’s been through some serious stuff, and guess what, sister?

Neither will you.

You are allowed to get down, but you are not allowed to stay down. You are allowed to have your moment and hunker inside, but you are not allowed to stay inside. You are allowed to stop for a second, but you are not allowed to stay stopped.

You are allowed to want to quit. You’re allowed to wish things had gone differently. You’re allowed to have a day.

But you are not allowed to let that day turn into the thing that determines the trajectory of the rest of all your days.

Let me tell you what else you’re not allowed to do.

You’re not allowed to let whatever this thing is win. You’re not allowed to let it win the war. You’re not allowed to let it get in there and twist the truth and convince you that you don’t matter, that what you’re doing doesn’t matter, and that you don’t have an essential role to play in this world.

The world needs you to shine.

And I promise, you will shine again.”