My MorningJournal friend, Joe, sent a thought provoking quote to the writer's group he and I are a part of: 
"You have to know how to accept rejection and reject acceptance." Ray Bradbury, advice to writers

Of course as a writer (wow, I typed that so easily, as if I had finally accepted that I am!), this is something I need to keep in my mind at all times. To know one's own voice and stay true to it, but also have enough sense to accept good criticism that will only improve my craft. But  I am more than a writer. I am a wife, mother, aunt, Nana, friend, and a woman walking her own path in this world so there are many ways in which this quote can apply. 

As a christian, this reminds me of what the Bible says about being 'in the world, but not a part of it'. I bought one of my daughter's a t-shirt once that had a little bitty fish swimming against a sea of other, bigger fish. I reminded her that at times she might be like this little bitty fish. She may be bounced around a bit, but if she kept her eyes on the prize, she wouldn't just make it, she would be stronger for it.

In my own life, I've learned I spent way too much energy trying to gain acceptance by others who I thought we're 'normal' . When you are reminded often by those around you that you are 'not normal', it can easily become too important to gain that acceptance. Though I wouldn't have admitted it at one time in my life, looking back I can now acknowledge there were many times when, without even realizing it, I was asking for acceptance by my over-achieving behaviour. Love me, accept me, I'm a good person- this is what I was unconsciously screaming.  

Thank goodness for wisdom gained by age and a loving Father who has been more faithful to me than I deserve because I've learned to actually like myself, shortcomings and all. We are not who we are by circumstances of birth whether it be by wonderful, loving parents, or a crack-head single mother. We are all children of the same God and we just are. There comes a time in one's life when you decide for yourself who you are going to be. I have given my testimony a few times and a 30-40 minute talk comes down to this: God loves you and wants the best for you, despite what life hands you, you have to learn to see yourself through His eyes and love yourself.