Every day we feature the beloved “Strawberry Letter” franchise that is so popular on “The Steve Harvey Morning Show,” heard nationwide. Send in your letters and Shirley Strawberry will dish out the necessary advice. Today’s topic: Slipping Into Darkness Good morning, crew! I am 33-year-old man who suffers from a crippling fear of failure. I am married to a beautiful woman and I am willing to die for her dreams, but not for my own. I always felt that I am too old and that I have wasted my life away, doing whatever others have wanted for me. My wife says that I am a pleaser and that I must start going after my own dreams, but this fear is so crippling, my self-esteem is none existence. I have had thoughts of my own death and tried it. When I told my wife, she said (loudly), “Don’t be selfish and that would hurt your family and me.” But, my faith in God and myself has been low for so long and after the death of my mother, there is nothing. I feel like death is a release from my suffering. I have a job that I hate and a marriage that love! I should be fine, but I am not? Where am I?
- “Strawberry Letters” are letters sent from fans of the “Steve Harvey Morning Show” and therefore do not express the sentiments of ESSENCE Magazine or ESSENCE.com. As these are fan letters, we have left them as close to their original form as possible.