I was never looking for "distinction" as a goal. I guess I figured out early that there would always be those better than me and those less well-endowed, those who like me and those who do not, etc. so allowing for an external measure of how well I was "doing" wasn't going to work.

I find it much easier to play with the Universe than with others seemingly like myself. I'm reminded of Kermit's song, "Bein' Green":

It's not that easy bein' green;
Having to spend each day the color of the leaves.
When I think it could be nicer being red, or
yellow or gold-
or something much more colorful like that.

It's not easy bein' green.
It seems you blend in with so many other
ordinary things.
And people tend to pass you over 'cause you're
not standing out like flashy sparkles in the water-
or stars in the sky.

But green's the color of Spring.
And green can be cool and friendly-like.
And green can be big like an ocean, or important
like a mountain, or tall like a tree.

When green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why, but why wonder why?
Wonder, I am green and it'll do fine,
it's beautiful!
And I think it's what I want to be.

I am what I am and am working at becoming "more so" :-) The only way I can do that is to look honestly at the cards I was dealt, the experiences I have had, my interests and abilities, the choices I get to make. There's noting in there about other people. I think it's hard to garner any "self" esteem by looking at other people.