ESSAY: Amazing Life

By Linda Tate

Life gets more amazing as you get older. Why? Because you learn to love yourself. You learn that other people's opinions of you are none of your business. You learn that human beings are often wrong, therefore their opinion of you or the things you do, isn't what counts.

What counts is being able to sleep at night with a clear conscience. What counts, is whether or not you chose to be kind over being right. What counts isn't what others say about you, but how you react to it. Did you take the high road? Did you remember that those that talk about you usually don't even know you? Did you remember that those that talk about you in negative terms, are probably pretty miserable in their own lives?

What counts in this life, doesn't have anything to do with other people. Not your parents, not your friends, nor your enemies. It has nothing to do with your husband, your wife, your boss, or your coworker. What counts in this life, is how you feel about yourself. That's it. Pretty simple, isn't it? It took me years to really understand that. All the young people that are on my friend's list are intelligent, kind, loving, caring, sharing people.

No, life won't always be perfect, but you can always find perfection in life. It's in the attitude. It's in the heart. It's in the thankfulness and the grace. Life is amazing, simply because you are in it...be well in that knowledge. Stay strong...in that wisdom.

If someone wrongs you, just remember, someone did that to them. They weren't born that way...and feel compassion for how they are choosing to live. More than anything else, just be thankful that YOU don't have to live that way.

Life really is amazing. Don't ever let anyone take your joy away from you. It's your choice. Be strong in that knowledge.