When I was a kid, my parents told me to be smart.
When I was a kid, the media told me to be skinny.
When I was a kid, the other students told me to be popular.
In other words, everyone wanted me to be perfect … including myself.
It took me 16 years for me to realize
Perfection is relative.
That man lying in a hospital bed, diagnosed with cancer thinks your life is perfect.
You think your best friend’s life is perfect.
He thinks your life is perfect.
If you strive for perfection, you will never be happy because perfection is an illusion.
It’s not worth even dreaming about
So be grateful for what you have.
When you grow up and have kids and when those kids have kids, look them in the eye and say,
“You are not perfect. Because ‘perfection’ is not a word worthy enough to be associated with you.”
Strive to be happy, not perfect
Because perfection is overrated.
When I was a kid, my parents told me to be smart, and the media told me to be skinny, and the other students told me to be popular.
Can you define what smart means?
Getting As in all your classes?
Does getting an A in Chemistry help you save someone’s life when they’re about to commit suicide?
Because I’ve been there. And let me tell you: saving someone’s life is more important than getting accepted into Harvard.
When I was a kid, my parents told me to be smart, and the media told me to be skinny, and the other students told me to be popular.
Why should I be skinny?
Should I have a skinny mind?
Should I have a skinny heart?
Skinny legs actually would not be that bad…
But in all honesty, if you were to die today
No one would care about how you look.
They would come to the funeral just to see the person with the personality they loved.
Seventeen Magazine will not come to your funeral.
Your family and friends will.
When I was a kid, my parents told me to be smart, and the media told me to be skinny, and the other students told me to be popular.
The official definition of "popular" is “regarded with favor, approval or affection by people in general.”
"People in general" means the more people, the more popular.
It’s just a number.
Since a number of points does not matter
And a number of pounds does not matter,
Why should a number of people matter?
Exactly.
It does not.
One diamond is worth more than a thousand stones.
When I was a kid, my parents told me to be smart.
When I was a kid, the media told me to be skinny.
When I was a kid, the other students told me to be popular.
So let us face it: I am none of these things.
I am not perfect.
But I am happy.
And that has to count for something.
