Bad Habit

I have learned something I'm not proud of,

It's become habit and it wasn't a choice �" 

I have learned to feel guilty about everything,

I have learned to soften my voice.

It's not that I was raised like this;

I was taught to speak my mind.

What's caused this crippling habit,

Is that I was taught to be kind.

Other people get what they want,

They satisfy their needs.

I dull myself to accommodate them,

Until my need to win recedes.

I wish I cared less about people,

And self assuredly fought more.

I wish I had learned differently,

I wish it to my core.