One Pimple is One Too Many - Identity

"I don't ever want to go back to believing life is meaningless. I know there are biochemical causes for some forms of depression, but I wish people who struggle against dark thoughts would risk their hopes on living a good story - by that I mean finding a team of people doing hard work for a noble cause, and joining them. I think they'd be surprised at how soon their sad thoughts would dissipate, if for no other reason than they didn't have time to think them anymore. There would be too much work to do, too many scenes to write." - Donald Miller


What defines you? 
Is it your job? Your family? Your talent? Your appearance?


While all of those things are important, they are not the most important. 


Change is the only constant in life. How you look, where you live, what you wear etc., is always subject to change. Instead of wrapping up your identity in what you do or how "popular" you are, choose to define yourself by your character. 


Also, surround yourself with people who are grounded. Oprah once said, "Everyone wants to ride with you in the limo, but what you need is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down." Whether you are a world-renowned superstar or you clean the floors of an apartment building -- your attitude, and the attitudes of those you surround yourself with, can change the way you view life. That's why it's so important to remember the important things in life -- not what you own, wear or know -- but how you treat others. Do you show respect to everyone, regardless of what they believe in or how they act? Do you take the high road, realizing you don't have to prove someone wrong to do what you know is right? In the end, that's what matters.


People will forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel. Make that feeling be love and the feeling of being cherished, not anything ugly or rude. 


There's also no excuse. You may say, "Ariel, I don't have a strong support system. My family isn't there for me and the people at my school aren't anything like you described..." In that case, you be that person. It might be a little harder, especially if you think you're alone, but trust me -- you are not alone. You will never be alone. More often than not, there's someone out there who believes in the same principles as you do and lives them out. Maybe they're afraid to, for fear of being made fun of. Take the initiative and see what happens. 


Keep dreaming, keep believing and remember -- you are a peculiar treasure. You're special, loved and worthy of everything good in the world. :)


Ariel