I’ve Turned a Corner

I just realized something the other day. I have turned a corner.

If you have been following my blog and reading my comments, you will notice that “anonymous” recently commented that she didn’t visit it very often because she found my articles too personal and not very inspiring.

This may be funny, but I am truly thankful that she said these words.

What???

Yes, I am truly thankful that she said these words. Why?

It wasn’t long ago that I would have been crushed by such comments. I would have felt that I have been a failure. I didn’t live up to somebody’s expectations. These words would have discouraged me. Honestly, I accepted them for what they were – comments from an anonymous person. Certainly valid for her, but drawing a “so what?” feeling from me. Allow me to explain.

I have learned that only I can be responsible for my own destiny. I can choose to allow the words of others pierce my spirit or I can simply continue doing my best to make this world a better place.

There is a saying that I like. “You may not be anybody to the world, but you may the world to somebody.” I’d like to spend my energies on who I am, not what I am not.

Part of this realization has been through watching the elections in Canada and the United States the past couple of months. Everybody has been attacking the character of everyone else, yet they don’t let these comments define their self worth. If they can take it, then why should I be different?

There will always be people who don’t see things the way I do. Heck, there were people who were critical of Mother Teresa, yet she just went about her business helping the poor in India. She put all her energies into just doing her best at what she was doing instead of worrying about what others thought.

Does that mean that I don’t listen to the advice of others? I do, but people who really care approach me directly in love rather than under the cloak of secrecy. That doesn’t mean I always like what they say, but I do respect the fact that they had the courage to talk to me directly.

Every day I have the choice to do my utmost to reach my highest goals or to listen to the world and let it chop me up.

I see it in some of my students. I asked them the other day, “Has anyone told you that you are special lately?” All of them said that they hadn’t. I then told them that I thought they were special. You could feel their spirits rise.

We can choose to believe what the world tells us or we can believe that we can achieve what we are destined to do.

And it took a comment from “anonymous” to help me realize that. Thank you, anonymous.