This is me damn it!

"There comes a time when you have to stand up and shout:

This is me damn it! I look the way I look, think the way I think, feel the way I feel, love the way I love! I am a whole complex package. Take me... or leave me. Accept me - or walk away! Do not try to make me feel like less of a person, just because I don't fit your idea of who I should be and don't try to change me to fit your mold. If I need to change, I alone will make that decision.

When you are strong enough to love yourself 100%, good and bad - you will be amazed at the opportunities that life presents you."
- Stacey Charter

I started bolding and increasing text size and trying to manipulate this to make the most important parts stand out, until I realized that it was pretty much all bolded. I found this today by chance and fell absolutely in love with it. If this doesn't empower you, I have to say you're pretty much unempowerable (yes, I did just make up a word). Ugh, reading that just makes me feel so ALIVE. Thank goodness I read this. On the road to recovery from low self-worth, self-confidence, and overall self-doubt.

It somewhat reminds me of this song I try to live my life by in a way...

"One day you'll see her and you'll know what I mean,

Take her or leave her she will still be the same

She'll not try to buy you with her time

But nothing's the same as you will see when she's gone"

- "This Side" by Nickel Creek

I didn't know who Stacey Charter was (originator of the quote that started this post), so I googled her. And this what came up -- a response authored by her to a post on some forum asking who she was:

Hi I am Stacey Charter. Not famous though my quotes end up in places that say I'm famous. Cancer Survivor, divorce survivor, attack survivor and all around positive person. Still learning to love myself 100% and thrilled that others have discovered the little pieces of myself I've placed on line. And yes - It's really me and yes I really did write those quotes. And someday I'd love to write a book filled with quotes and stories and tears and laughter. Thanks for asking! staceycharter@yahoo.com [from yedda.com]

(Note: Stacey gave me permission to post her email address [see above] if you would like to contact her.)