John,

Boy do I agree. I am the same kind of person. I think, actually, everyone is. I feel that we all seem to tend to make our failures out to be the biggest things people will notice about us.

It is so amazing to me, still, that other people have so many problems of their own that they don't notice the flap of my dress shirt sticking out, I mean, c'mon! It's me, mr. failure for goodness' sake

I find that when people do want to brag about my education, or my good stuff, I downplay it as well. Why? For me, it was the way I was raised. Do not brag about yourself, make everyone else feel good. Thats okay, but its not really right...we should make ourselves feel just as good.

I hope you do feel better.