“A lot of life is dealing with your curse, dealing with the cards you were given that aren't so nice. Does it make you into a monster, or can you temper it in some way, or accept it and go in some other direction?” – Wes Craven, Born Aug. 2, 1939.
You know what I love about what I do for a living?
Every single thing I've ever been made fun of for, or ever once hated about myself for the sake of the approval of others…
All that junk is now my array of super powers.
Short? I'm compact awesomeness, dense and rich.
Ugly? I grew a beard to look even weirder.
Nerdy? I sell my smarts for straight cash.
Dress loud? I capture attention and start conversations.
Weird? I run a cult.
Obnoxious? Hell yes.
Egotistical? Goddamn right.
Verbose? Possessed of Brobdingnagian certitude.
Every flaw is owned. Featured. Bragged about. I make my mistakes and madness part of what I do. It makes it really hard for my haters to effectively bash me. Because usually they latch onto what I'm putting into people's faces on purpose.
Thanks for noticing!
Like Eminem in Eight Mile, you light yourself on fire and laugh at the people who used to burn you down for their own insecurities.
Of course, you need to have the work. You need to have the results. Unless you're in a circus sideshow, being your own odd self isn't enough on its own.
But when you have the goods…
And you combine them with your own unique insights and angles and strengths and even weaknesses – you lay it all out and attract all the people who also feel weak and want to become strong and proud and happy and successful like you.
What made you “strange” makes you powerful.
But you can't hide it. You can't quit. You make it work.
First off, I am surprised for some reason that Wes Craven is that old.
Secondarily, thank you for using words like Brobdingnagian.
Yes, I had to look it up.
Third, thank you for revitalizing my belief in email as the best online marketing tool.
And thanks for all the insights.
He’s not that old. He died in 2015 at 76. But you’re welcome for the other stuff, as always. Thanks, Carlos! 🙂
Oh crap, I didn't know he died.
For someone who has many low self-esteem and self-confidence issues, this devotional speaks to my soul. The solution brought forth here is to truly own it and embrace it, but I've realized that in order to reach this stage, one needs to first learn how to accept compliments at face value when it does happen. Too many times have people given encouraging remarks to show their support only for me to respond with annoyance and even frustration — directed at them. Having that one or two friends can make all the difference when you allow them in.
Alternatively, there is always the social bubble that one can join but it can be quite the double-edged sword. You either find yourself wallowing in a cesspool to commiserate and drag each other down willingly in the guise of comradery, or breathing in the fresh air of a healing haven that functions to reshape and transform unhealthy minds by those who've been there and stayed in the circle to pay it forward.