As you grow up, you learn to be what you want to be, not what others want you to be.

You learn to value and express your desires. To support them by believing they are right. To share them, knowing that there are people whose desires you share.

You learn not to worry constantly about disappointing others when you don't give them what they want, and to care about what you want. You listen respectfully to what others want, but without discounting your desires.

You learn to insist only on those people who are receptive to sharing. For those who are not, you do not feel that you are doing something wrong by not insisting.

You learn not to depend on others for your happiness. To feel joy and satisfaction in who you are, in what you give, which you do only as long as it makes you feel good.

You learn not to offer everything, you don't want to be offered everything, you trust your feelings, you let them go, and you trust people.

You learn not to force others to change because you like who you are, just the way you are.

You learn not to blame yourself and to appreciate every step you take as a life lesson. When you understand yourself, you don't judge people, you empathize and understand them.

You learn to choose not by the guarantees others give you, but by the quality of the love you feel.

As you grow up, you learn to love yourself. You learn that being you is utterly fascinating.