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You Have the Right to...Be Yourself

Guest post by: Sheryl Nicholson

Article Overview: You Have the Right to ...Be Yourself! For years we have identified ourselves as "belonging to someone else." Hi, I'm Dale and Rose's daughter. Hi, I'm Robby's wife. Hi, I'm Sara's mom. Hi, I'm Mia's sister. Hi, I'm VP of Marketing for Citicorp. That's not who you are. Whatever happened to

You Have the Right to...Be Yourself

For years we have identified ourselves as "belonging to someone else."

Hi, I'm Dale and Rose's daughter.

Hi, I'm Robby's wife.

Hi, I'm Sara's mom.

Hi, I'm Mia's sister.

Hi, I'm VP of Marketing for Citicorp.

That's not who you are.

Whatever happened to just, Hi, I'm Sheryl Nicholson! It's who I am. That's probably why my company's domain name is includes MY name.

Do you know who you are? You are the only one who has the right to define that. It includes all the good, the bad, and the ugly.

One day I was feeling pretty darn incapable of accomplishing what I wanted to do because of harsh criticism from some negative people in my life. So I grabbed a pencil and a legal pad and began to write down all the things I could do. Who was I? What were my ingredients? I'd like for you to do the same thing here. I'll get you started with a few on my list:

I can ride a bicycle...not everyone knows how to do that!

I can make a whistle out of a blade of grass.

I can read more than one book in a day.

I know how to make homemade bubbles and homemade paper.

I know how to use a saw, a hammer, and a screwdriver.

I can lay tile and hardwood.

I know how to make a stained glass window.

I know how to drive a stick shift car or truck.

I know how to give a cat a bath without getting clawed.

I know how to grow butterflies.

I know how to birth a baby without medication.

OK, now you get a legal pad. It's your turn.

This list took me days and now sits on my night table so that when I get another idea, I can add to it. The other day while making my bed I saw a different handwriting on the pad. That's curious - so I picked it up and in my 16-year-old daughter's handwriting was "You know how to love."

What a gift she gave me! Isn't it funny that we often forget the obvious?

I had a very wise friend once who told me "the skills that come to us naturally we don't seem to value." It's true. For example, I can write easily. Reporters often call and ask me to submit an article for their upcoming magazine, and give me a 90-day deadline. They are surprised that it's in their office the next afternoon. I don't think about my writing ability, but others seem to know and value it.

Another friend, who is a graphic genius, can take one look at something and, with just a little tweak, turn it into a work of art. Yet she has a hard time charging for her genius because she feels it comes so easily.

What is it about you that you undervalue? Maybe it's the way you care for others. Maybe it's the way you can lead, sing, or commit. Did you know commitment counts on your list? Not everyone knows how or even wants to commit...to work, to life, to advancement. So don't miss adding that quality to your list.

And what about the emotional makeup that defines you? Do you value laughing? Do you look for ways to stay excited about life?

Do you still take risks?

Know yourself, love yourself, and share yourself and your gifts with those who value and support them. It's why the Red Hat Ladies are recruiting pink hat ladies...those in their 30s who want to kick the world in the pants and say,

You Have the Right to...Be Yourself!

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Article Tags: rights, self esteem, women, your rights



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