For the past two weeks, my sister has been sending me texts on the topic of: Why You Are Awesome. For those of you with similar self-esteem issues, you will understand how hard it has been to simply accept them as they roll in without firing back comically dismissive retorts. (I will admit that there have been more than one text when I could not resist shouting impotently at the phone and one where I literally had to sit on my hands.) Somewhere deep inside, I know I’m awesome and I know my life is awesome but I don’t think many people understand why I don’t often acknowledge it publicly.

I am so, so lucky. I have an amazingly supportive network of friends and family. I have a good education; a roof over my head; a good job with a great company; great local health insurance; access to excellent health care; access to quality food choices and clean water; and the means to maintain a stable lifestyle without the constant fear that it could be yanked away after the next paycheck. A lot of the world doesn’t have these luxuries. Some of my friends don’t even have all of them and the last thing I want to do is make them feel bad about it. I’m nowhere near “rich” by American standards, but I sure as hell am in global terms and, to me, it feels rude and self-aggrandizing to be constantly shouting it from the rooftops. I’m just trying to live my life in the best way I can.

Why You Are Awesome #14:  You love deeply but very quietly.

Yup. That’s pretty much it.