Ya know? It's been my experience that those of us with mental disabilities tend to think that EVERYTHING is about US. Each one of us becomes the center of the universe. Everybody is staring at us, everybody is laughing at us or judging us in some way or another. I've been there myself far too many times to want to remember! That is... until my T gave me a little gem to hold onto, being that I'm selfish by nature. LOL She told me I was giving away my power to all the imaginary judgments. People in general and too self-centered to pick on person out of a group and pass any kind of judgement. What made me think that I was so dang important or weird that people would stop what they were doing to even look at me?? IF, by chance, someone did that, what do I care? I don't know them! What they think doesn't matter to me!

In short, I was allowing a great big bunch of strangers to control me by worrying about what they probably weren't even thinking! In reality, it's us that put limitations on ourselves with our own thinking. ARGH! Don't you just love it?

On of my teachers in grade school or high school one, I don't remember when, quoted, I think Abraham Lincoln. He said "You can't please all of the people all of the time." At the time, I felt as if I couldn't please ANYONE at ANY TIME, so I clung to that quotation. It took me almost a lifetime to realize that the only one I had to please was ME... and through respect and consideration, my loved ones, but there are limits to that, too; healthy personal boundaries. It's definitely a journey. Sometimes a long, bumpy one. That's why I'm so thankful for this loving, understanding community.