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Self-doubt

I am not very sure of the age at which self-doubt first surfaces on the calm composure of a child's personality. When I look at my daughter, it is self-belief and the idea of happiness that drives all her efforts, which makes an observation of hers most engaging. A man is, to me it seems, all that he can be, at the beginning of his life. Her needs are so pure and straight-forward that any apology is therefore, out of place.
Happiness is the sole driver of her activities. She, the sweet child of tomorrow, has no qualms of pointing to my shoes and tell very clearly to my nephew who is trying to wear them that those belong to her father and he should wear those of his own. At half his height she would pull herslf up to all of her stature and make her point. And I do love her for that. By this simple act she throws out all norms of social appropriateness choking the true human feelings, and makes it more meaningful to me is that she thereby connects to me as an extension  to me, by what she believes is standing up for me. What saddens me is the thought of how so very soon in life, one kills this inner fight, bit by bit that one remains no longer capable of standing even by oneself, let alone by those one loves. We do know at times, that we are being treated totally shabbily and at times we treat even ourselves with scant respect. 

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