Written by Gabrielle Estrada

Slippery Slope

by roastedpiglet

I can feel myself slipping down a slippery slope

It’s a truth that I’ve faced and I’m starting to lose hope

And when I blow the candles out, sing the birthday song

I start to wonder… and I ponder:

How long do I have to be strong?

‘Cause certainly, there are days when I feel so weak

And no one’s there to assure me: no, you do not reek

Of inadequacy and insecurity

No one to tell me, “It’s okay. One day? You’ll be free.”

You’ll be free

You’ll be free

Guess the challenge is to raise my life up when I’m already in the middle

How to make the most out of the time I’ve left, time so little

And if I don’t avoid the voice telling me, “Life is better when it’s done”-

By the time you reach this point, you’ll know I have been long gone

There are moments in life where everything just falls apart. Sometimes it happens slowly, starting from the slightest bit of anxiety which eventually grows and consumes everything around you. Sometimes it happens all at once, and it’s like the universe has conspired to simultaneously drop bombs on everything you care about. When this happens, you find yourself slipping down a slippery slope. This is certainly where roastedpiglet found herself when she penned Slippery Slope, which she wrote as a rap.

When everything goes wrong, it becomes increasingly difficult for us to stand firm and fight gravity from dragging us down with our problems. And no matter how great these problems may be, the self-doubt they induce within us is ultimately what causes our downfall.

As a college student, I know what it is like to constantly encounter situations that increase my self-doubt. We are at that stage wherein we are easily susceptible to feeling worthless, losing hope and getting lost. From our collective society to our very own families, we are surrounded by pressures. You have to excel in everything you do. You have to be acceptable and honorable. You have to stay strong no matter what happens to you. Too many a time do we find ourselves asking, how long do I have to be strong? Am I good enough? Will I ever be good enough?

Sometimes, you just need someone to tell you that you’re on the right track. Sometimes, you just need someone to tell you that you’re going to be okay. Slippery Slope reminds us that we don’t always have to look far for reassurance. We can be the heroes we are looking for.

Although it isn’t easy to envision yourself as your own saving grace, you truly are the only one capable of freeing yourself from all your self-doubt. Slippery Slope serves as a reminder that ultimately, you are in charge of your life.

As you read this beautiful piece today, I hope that you are reminded of your worth. You are strong. You are good enough. And most importantly, you do have what it takes to conquer the slippery slope and get back up again