| March Hayah Living! |
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 I Won’t Shrink BackBy Palm Springs Guides Inspirational Guide Mika Young Have you ever felt like there was something holding you back from putting your heart and soul into expressing everything brewing on the inside of you? Or, perhaps you feared what others might think or say about you if you were, all of the sudden, to be propelled into a spotlight in which you didn’t think yourself worthy enough to stand. Would you shrink back?
Sometime ago, a friend mentioned how low self-esteem had caused her to shrink from opportunities to display the magnitude of her talents. She found herself holding back so as not to draw too much attention to herself as she was highly uncomfortable being the subject of applause and special attention. As I listened to her, I was stunned to hear her words echo the cry of my own heart. I don’t believe I ever shared this discovery with her as I didn’t have the courage to even admit it to myself. Someone how I felt like burying myself was a part of my “moral duty” in order to make everyone else around me feel comfortable, including me. I was blinded by my own fear of venturing outside of my comfort zone. Years later, just as I was finally gaining confidence to step out and stand fully in who I was, someone accused me of taking too much of the spotlight. Huh? This accusation came out of nowhere and cut like a knife. What was I doing other than simply being myself — without restraint? Wow. My first inclination was to go back into the cave I had lived in for most of my life. However, I decided to go with my second inclination, which was to ask God to reveal and continue to weigh the motives of my heart so that nothing would hinder me from being who He created me to be — not even me. Hey — if I had no say in my being born, why not surrender to the One who created me to express all that I am in a manner that reveals His glory and excellence? Hmmm. Now, imagine if we all did this without ceasing. What a big and continuous spotlight that would be! My aim is not to stand as some self-professed God-child who believes that she has it all together, but, rather, as one who is ever available to please The Father like a child that is learning how to walk for the very first time. And, I won’t shrink back!
I Won’t Shrink Back I was the singer who wouldn’t sing I was the dreamer who never dreamed I was the writer who never wrote The dynamic speaker who never spoke I was the life that never lived I was the giver who couldn’t give I was the winner, afraid to win I was the friend without a friend
But, now I’m singing songs just like the birds I’m dreaming dreams as vast as the universe I’m writing things I couldn’t even spell I’m speaking truths I once wouldn’t tell Whether alone, or with a friend I’m going places I’ve never been
So glad the past is behind me now So glad I’m free — I’m free to be me — wow! No longer ashamed to just let things out No more fear to make me doubt I’ve got my faith in the one who colored me Black And I tell you I won’t No, I won’t shrink back!
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Songstress/Poet/Writer/Innertainer Mika Young enjoys using her voice as an instrument of inspiration, liberation and justice. In August 2008, Mika left her position heralding the message of “Let Us Discover You” from the “mountaintop” of Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts as an admissions recruiter to go on an uncharted journey of self-discovery in the Desert. She now shares her successes and failures as an artistic presenter to encourage others. Mika is Co-Host of The Bohemian Poetry Experience at Dezart One Gallery, Inspirational Columnist (Hayah Living!) for PalmSpringsGuides.Com, and a member of California Desert Regional Theater and the Open Mic Theatre Group at Gilda's Club Desert Cities. An Alumna of Berklee College of Music, she has been a featured vocalist on various musical recording projects, most notably, ‘We Are All Connected’, a CD compilation geared to raise funds and awareness about the atrocities in Darfur, which she also contributed as a songwriter. 
