Dear Shirley:

I miss opening with dear Shirley, earth angel, but that opening is special to the longest running thread on tiny buddha. Don’t forget to go back to it. And continue on this thread, on the topic here anytime.

I like your conclusions very much, best articulated here: ” i will not be like one of the apples on the tree waiting to be picked by others and subject to societal standards, but i’ll be the light that shines upon the tree instead.”-

Please, do just that, live your life this way!

anita