Growing up, I felt different from many of my childhood peers. To my adolescent sensibilities, my name was odd; theirs was melodic and sing-songy. I didn’t look like them. I carried secrets buried deep within me that never saw the light of day.
I didn’t know it back then, but in time I soon came to realize that I was unique. Even though that uniqueness set me apart from everyone else, I believed it did so in a bad way. All of that negativity fed into my low self-esteem. I didn’t like myself very much and I went about getting attention in the wrong way. I was trying too hard to be someone I wasn’t.
It wasn’t until I grew into adulthood — long past my teens, my twenties and even my thirties — before I began to accept who I was and those traits that made me unique. Am I everyone’s cup of tea? No, and I really don’t care to be. But what I will do is celebrate the traits, qualities and quirks that make me the woman I have become: Valerie.
Pat says
I have always been quirky, so Midlife is more just being crazy and and unique and alive.
Valerie Albarda says
…and I have a feeling you celebrate that, Pat! Congratulations or owning your quirky!
Beth Havey says
I love writing and many of my friends don’t support me doing that. Does it stop me? NO. I move forward because
it’s me. If the makes me quirky, I’m fine with it.
Valerie Albarda says
Wow Beth…that lack of support is astonishing. It saddens me, really. But you keep on keepin’ on, girl! 🙂
Rebecca Forstadt Olkowski says
I think you’re fabulous!