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In some eyes, I am cool. In some eyes, I am popular. In some eyes, I am ugly. In some eyes, I am pretty. In some eyes, I am original. In some eyes, I am preppy. In some eyes, I am nerdy. In some eyes, I am sane. In some eyes, I am crazy. In some eyes, I am a loser. I won't object to any of those labels. I don't mind. Except the last one. That one I DO mind.
I am strong. I am unique. I am true to myself. Correct me if I'm wrong, but those are not characteristics of a loser. I may fail a test. I may screw up that pass in soccer. I may be dumped. I may break down and cry in front of everyone. Does that make me a loser? No. It could. But I build up from the failure, I learn.
It isn't very hard to see I am the type of person who twists things up so gosh darn much I can make almost anything seem like a gain, in some way. I do it because I love happiness; I want everyone to be happy. Do I always succeed? No. But do I try? Yes!
Some people may view me as a loser because that's exactly it: I'm not. I am so confident even when I mess up it seems, at first, unnatural. AS if I have no emotions. As if I don't care. Of course I do. Those people around you that pretend that they don't care . . . get this: they do. They care the most of anyone. Those people want it to seem easy, want it to seem effortless. And, for those of you who have tried to be like them, you know it's not. And I'm guessing you gave up, thinking you were destined to be a loser, fated to be a loner. You weren't. That's silly. But don't worry, you won't be silly forever, I was once. But then my friend sent me this quote in an email.
"Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us. It is not just in some; it is in everyone. And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
~Nelson Mandela
If you haven't realized it yet, Nelson Mandela is one of the greatest people to have ever lived.
He had the gift of this powerful wisdom, a gift only God is great enough to give. And he was not selfish to this gift, but he shared it. My friend shared it with me, now I'm sharing it with you.
Before, when people called me a loser, I acted like one. Now, when someone calls me a loser, I simply smile. I know exactly how wrong they are. I know how fabulous I am.
I'm not vain; I don't have an ego. I have pride. Pride was a blessing, a blessing we all already have but we need to find. It is a difficult search, but possible. A very realistic goal, a great goal, a goal that if you haven't reached, you should reach for it. It will be one of the best things you could ever do for yourself.
I began telling you my story by telling you how I am not a loser. I am ending by telling you how much of a winner I am. And, with all my heart, I pray you will have a story with an ending much like mine: happy.
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