Not everyone will live
To live a life carefree of the thoughts and opinions of others is almost a rarity. To live this life is foreign to some degree. It does not exist to many. Their shallowness says it cannot. Further, it makes no sense to think it is even a possibility. Each day, millions walk this planet with another person’s eyes guiding them, and their words hanging over their heads and governing their steps. These individuals are trapped in a whirlwind because they want to be out, yet they settle in where they are, not knowing they are imprisoned.
Do you know what matters?
They settle because they have not figured out other people’s thoughts and opinions do not matter. What does matter is how they view you in terms of respect. Do they see how you bring to the table what they do not have? Not yet. Do they honor your wit and giftedness? Not yet. Do they see how comfortable you are being you, even if it causes disdain to arise in them? Not yet. That disdain is nothing more than insecure admiration that pride and ego won’t allow them to express. They are struggling within themselves.
It’s your life
When you appreciate all that has happened to you that was not what you wanted or projected, you should learn to be unapologetic for seeing life through the lens of victory. You came through, not them. You endured when you did not know you could, not them. Far too many struggle with what others think because they do not see what beat them built them. Respect should be what you are after; respect to and for yourself, respect for what propelled you, and respect for those who realized your immensity before you did. Liking can be battled with, but it is hard to fight respect.