Senso1970's Blog   Thoughts, ramblings, and accountability from sunny Madison, AL

No matter who you can think of, nobody has spent more time with you than you.  Even dear old Mom hasn’t.  Sure, the two of you hung out together for around 9 months at the beginning of things for you.  She was definitely there for your birth.  But from that point forward it’s highly unlikely she’s been there every moment of your life.  No matter who it is, even if they were there the moment you were born and have been around in your life since, hasn’t been there for everything.

Why do I mention this?  Because we get a lot of advice from well-meaning, well-intentioned people, including dear old Mom.  They give this advice based on their best understanding of us.  But try as they might, they’ll never understand you as well as you can.  And sometimes the people giving the unsolicited advice aren’t well-meaning or well-intentioned.

You see, baring some sort of issue related to amnesia, you’re the only one with all the facts of your life.  More importantly, even if there was someone who has managed to be in the same space as you all your life, they still don’t have the insights of what has gone on in your head.  How did each and every one of those moments make you feel?  What impact did they have on your drive and focus?  What things did you consider impactful and what things did you dismiss out of hand?

All of that relevant information is contained in just one individual.  You.  So answer me this.  If nobody else has as great an understanding of you as you do, why do you hold their opinion of you higher than your own?

When someone tells you that you can’t do something, how do they know that better than you?  When someone tries to downplay your dreams as unreasonable, who are they to say it?  Or when someone cruelly tells you that you aren’t good enough, or worthy enough, or pretty enough why would you listen to what they think about you over what you know?

Why indeed.  The answer of course is you shouldn’t.  If you’re happy with who you are don’t worry about what other people think of you.  They don’t know you like you know you.  If you have a dream that others tell you is silly, who cares?  It isn’t their dream, so why would they be as invested in it as you are.  If you’re happy with the way you look and how you feel, never be swayed by the opinions of others who try to tell you otherwise.  Even friends and family who have the best of intentions for you.

Because in the end why would you care about the opinion of someone who is, regardless of intention, trying to bring you down?  You’re a light in this world, never forget that.  So don’t worry about the fog of negativity people like that try to shroud you in.  Burn brightly like you know you can and be a beacon to others.  Have a great and bright day.