All I Ever Wanted to Hear Was "Go Ahead, You Can Do It"

Fear has long been my biggest foe, a chain that binds me. In every moment I’ve lived and every dream I’ve held, it hinders me from soaring high and unbound. Fear of being seen through eyes that will only judge, fear of scarring people or being scarred, fear of failure — these fears have yielded lost chances, missed connections, and dimmed dreams that I once charted.

For so long, my heart pulsed with silent yearnings for those dreams. But somewhere along the way, they began to feel too distant, too daunting. The world imposed its harsh realities, mumbling that success lay in cautious choices and secure jobs. I feared failure — not just for myself but for my family. In my desire to give back to them, I buried my dreams under dusts of “what ifs” and “not yets.”

Yet, deep down, I know it was the absence of courage within me that truly held me back. It was never merely about choosing a safer path; it was about lacking the bravery to take the leap. I ached for reassurance, for someone to say, “Take the leap, we’re here.” All I longed for was a promise that, even if I stumbled, I wouldn’t fall alone. I wanted to hear those words from the ones I loved, to know they’d stand by me regardless of the outcome.

The words I needed were: “Go ahead, you can do it.” Those words carry winds, a gentle push to help me fly and muster the courage to chase my dreams — words I didn’t realize I needed until I heard them.

“Go for it. You’ll never know maybe someday you’ll make it. Even if I don’t have money, I’ll travel to support and watch you.”

And to the first person who spoke those words, my aunt: you revived the dreamer in me, even just a little. Since then, your belief in me has never wavered, even when mine faltered. You’ve always seen through the fog that clouded my vision, seeing the light in me and my dreams.

It may not have come from the person I wished to hear it from, and perhaps I heard it too late, with detours that have already led me far from those dreams and opportunities that have slipped away. But knowing that there is one person who believes in me — who thinks I can make it — gives me a sense of solace.

Because of that, I hold onto the hope that maybe, just maybe, someday I can reclaim what was once set aside. That I can replace what could have been with what still can be, and find the path back to the dreams I once cherished, even through all my detours. And because of that, I found a little courage to dream again.

Perhaps, in another way, on another stage, I can still reach for those stars. And those words — your words — will give birth to a bright star. Someday.