Do you feel like a fruit salad? by Brendan Coboy

Image by Ryan McGuire from Pixabay

Children in playgrounds shout comments, “Ah, you’re nothing but a rotten banana!”

They mocked, jeered and blew raspberries at you, but did the combination of raspberry and banana make you feel like a fruit salad? Of course not.

There is a saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Many of us were brought up on this saying and the line, “Big boys (& girls) don’t cry.” Both of these comments are lies, which damage and we are all allowed to cry. It helps me to stay sane (some may question that statement).

The damage caused during our youth is like a seed. We bury them deep within our psyche, where they take root, propagate and shoot into the beast that we know as ‘imposter syndrome.’

You tell yourself that your writing is rotten, just like that banana. Maybe you have only recently started writing and you feel more like a bitter, green banana. You ask yourself on an almost daily basis, “Who am I trying to kid? I can never write a book, a poem, a short story, a blog or any kind of literature.” You wonder, “Why can’t I be tasty and sweet like all the other bananas?” Here’s the thing, every banana in the bunch struggles at times.

Jeremiah 30:2 says, “Write all of the words that I have spoken to you in a book.” This is God speaking and He wants us to do the same. Write a journal, and share your thoughts and feelings, it may become a memoir. Scribble down the craziest, wackiest ideas, these may become the concept of a bestselling novel. As Christian writers, we all believe in Jesus, but do you believe in yourself and your capabilities?

At Book Blest this year, Maressa Mortimer and I will be leading a short workshop on beating imposter syndrome. If you are in the Stroud area on 6^th September, come along to the Baptist Church; it is free and you don’t have to be a fruit salad.

Brendan Conboy aka Half Man Half Poet is the author of 16 published books including two fascinating autobiographies, The Golden Thread and I'm Still VALUED.  In 1986, Brendan invited Jesus into his life and God blessed him with the gift of rhyming words.  He used that gift as a Christian Rap artist for 25 years and has written 6 poetry books including the entire Book of Psalms in Rhyme.  He has 3 published novels - Issues, Invasion of the Mimics and Legacy of the Mimics.  He is the creator of Book Blest Christian book festival.  Brendan is available for speaking events, poetry performances and workshops.  Visit Brendan's website HERE.