No matter what you do, you feel like you’re being watched. Every move, fidget, stretch, walk. Anything you do—doesn't matter—it can be judged.

 

Amur honeysuckle is judged, too, but it's one of the strongest bush species in America. When its branches are snipped, it comes back even stronger, sprouting more branches than before. It can withstand shade, heat, drought, and even severe winter cold. These challenges don't change the essense of the bush. It always stays the same, even if people want it to change.

 

It’s the first day of Kindergarten. You have no care in the world, and you are a bouncing ball of sunshine. The judgment reflects off you as if it was water and your mind was hydrophobic. 

 

As you grow older you realize how judgmental people are—your mind becomes hydrophilic. You hear all the things people say about you. You become obsessed with it. The judgment is all you can think about. A single positive thought is drowned out by all the negative comments. Each branch of confidence is slowly snipped away.

​

“That dress makes her look fat.” SNIP. 

 

“Does he ever stop talking?” SNIP. 

 

“I hate hanging out with them. They’re always so annoying.” SNIP. 

 

Each branch falls to the ground and slowly rots away, just like your confidence. You believe that you’re a horrible person just because someone said so. You no longer want to come to school and just want to lie in bed. The poisonous thoughts eat you up, and you keep to yourself.

 

It’s hard not to listen to the judgmental words of others. When you are young, your brain is like a sponge, like the soil in the ground. The water that is judgment, is sucked up through your roots like candy. This candy of judgment gives you a horrible sugar rush.

 

As you grow older, you realize you don’t need to let these judgmental thoughts in. You let your branches grow back, even stronger than before. 

 

“You think I look fat in this dress? I’ll wear it anyway.” 

 

“I know I talk a lot, but that's just who I am!”

 

“I get you think I'm annoying, so why are we friends?” 

 

Your branches slowly grow back, as well as your confidence. You are inspired by your past.

Especially now when you look back on it, you can see how you grew. 

 

Each blow someone tries to throw at you, you push back—through rain and shine, even snow. You won’t be beaten down by the words of judgment. Even when someone tries to snip off your branches again, your branches grow stronger than before.