Every day the world tells me that I am not good enough.

Every day, hundreds of times per day (hundreds of thousands), the world tells me that I am not right.

I am not beautiful enough. I am not smart enough. I am not worldly enough. I am not cultured, I am not experienced, I am not right.

Fortunately, I have learned to build a shell around me. I have learned to protect myself from the hurtful words of the world. I no longer consider myself sensitive to what the world has to say about me.

But I am sensitive to what you have to say.

My ego is not so tender that I require constant validation and justification. You do not need to tell me every day that I am smart, that I am beautiful, that I am right. I treasure when you do, but I do not need it to survive.

What I do need, though, is for you not to feed into the world’s voice.

What value is brought to me by pointing out hurtful things people say about me?

What benefit do I glean by telling me that somebody else accomplished the same thing I did, only at a younger age and with less effort?

I do not need you to start a round of applause for every accomplishment in my life, but please don’t join the boos.

I am not naïve. I know that the world is against me. I know that there are people smarter, that will work harder, and that will do so much more than I can ever hope to achieve.

I am OK with that. But I am not OK with you constantly reminding me of it.

I do not need a cheerleader, but I do need a friend. Please be my friend. Leave the reality to the rest of the world.

I think they have it covered.

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– Victoria Elizabeth