All You Need Is 'SELF'- Love...

   When I think back, over my life, recalling how important it used to be for me to be 'accepted' by others, and, knowing, 'all too well, the feelings of being ostracized and ridiculed, based, on nothing more than my 'appearance', I am ever, so, happy to no longer need, similar, validation from anyone. It can be tough, growing-up, 'different' from one's peers, especially, as a child; for, kids can be 'cruel'; Actually, I don't, honestly, believe, that, most, children are mean-hearted, OR, mean-spirited...they're, simply, honest...to a fault, as they tend NOT to have a 'filter' between their brains and their mouths, this, a thing I recognize now, not, all those, years, ago, when I was the 'target' of their, 'truthfulness'. Despite, any of this, or, perhaps, because of it, I became MORE sensitive to the plight of others, who are 'picked-on' for, knowing and understanding the pain associated to such provocation. I am an empathetic-sort, and, often, in my life, this has been to my 'misfortune'; However, I have discovered a 'healthy-balance' for myself, which, allows me my personal-peace. Today, due to the fact, that, I have become my own 'best-friend', loving myself, and God, before all, others, as well as 'liking' the person I have become, I no longer stand in need of the approval of any, other, person, in my life. Because, I am secure in my self-love and in the knowing, that, I am loved by my Higher-Power, the 'Source' of all LOVE, this, has, created in me, a more, loving, accepting, and, understanding soul...my BEST-self, who is capable of embracing all, human-kind, because I embrace myself. Just Sayin'...