Wow September, that really defines what I *try* to do in life. I always think of myself as a strong and individual person, always say I don't care what others think, but I don't think that's always true. I'm always looking for affirmations from other people because I don't give them to myself. I mean I do sometimes, but for the most part I'm very hard on myself. I think I was so upset about what my aunt said because she's always been kinda snobby, and when I was a kid, little comments that I'd hear her make to my mom would sting. The article makes a good point about how things we hear as children affect us as adults. They always talk bad about my mom's side of the family because they had always been poor, and didn't live up to my dad's side of the family's standards. I have a lot of "hokeyness" I guess from my mom. She was very down to earth and not at all materialistic. Unlike my aunt. So I think she's always hit a nerve, and the other day it finally just overwhelmed me to the point of taking it in and feeling bad.

Thank you so much for this article. It reaffirmed my values about myself. I have always thought of myself very much as "self" and have the values of the article, but obviously sometimes it slips. This article brought me back! Thank you!!!!!!!