“You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anyone.” ~Maya Angelou
I sat on a big, cold stone on the beach next to Lake Ontario and watched as the waves lapped upon the shore.
To my right, there were swans and ducks floating on the water. The swans were graceful and beautiful as they glided along the shoreline, and the ducks were being their usual kooky selves.
It always made me laugh to watch them dive underwater, kick their webbed feet in the air, and wag their feathered bums back and forth. They were so natural, so unaware of my presence, so carefree.
I admired them for their untroubled lives and yearned for what they had—the complete and total lack of care for what I thought of them.
To my left in the distance, I saw the CN tower and the surrounding high rises of Toronto. I was in college studying acting for film and television, which had always been my dream.
But now, sitting next to the vast open water under the clear skies and watching as the waves slowly rolled up and receded, breathing in the fresh air, I realized this was the most content and peaceful I’d felt in weeks.
All of my life, I wanted to be an actress. I wanted to see my face on the big screen, my name credited in large, bold letters; to be a guest on talk shows and able to meet all of the successful actors I admired.
I wanted to be someone who was noticed, praised, respected, and looked up to. I wanted to be special.
I also loved the craft of acting itself and thought that connecting with other people was so beautiful. But since coming to college four months ago, all I’d really felt was judged.
Rosalind Russell said, “Acting is standing up naked and turning around very slowly.” That’s exactly how I felt in my program, every day.
Day after day, I would pour my heart and soul into a performance for my professor and my classmates. I’d receive some small praise but buckets and buckets of criticism on top of that—what I could have done better and what was wrong with what I did or how I looked.
Deep inside, I knew that that was how I’d learn, grow, and become better, but the constant flow of negative feedback was really taking its toll on me. Most days I would go back to my small residence room and cry about how terrible I was.
I never felt good enough. I hadn’t yet realized that I was so afraid of judgment from other people because I was constantly judging myself.
Flash forward to exam week and I was sitting on the beach. To my left was the city. The hustle and bustle, the crowds, the competition, and the never ending flow of judgment and criticism.
To my right was the gentle blue waves, the soft stones and pebbles strewn along the sand, the ducks in all their carefree and content splendor, the swans with their heads held high, floating peacefully along the shoreline.
I knew in that moment that I would have to make a choice.
I either had to dedicate myself wholeheartedly to this profession, with all its criticism, or walk away and find something new. Both choices were equally daunting.
I always loved nature, and being immersed in it made me feel so calm. Life became simple and easy in those moments and it was okay to be me.
But I also loved performing—the sound of applause and the times when the light shone on me and I was approved. The brief moments when what I did was good enough.
The ducks didn’t need anyone to tell them that they were good enough. They didn’t have to memorize a script, work on it for hours, find the perfect costume, and perform their guts out to earn a single head nod.
The ducks were simply themselves. They didn’t care that there was someone on the beach. They didn’t instantly attempt to straighten their feathers or worry about whether or not I liked how they were swimming. They were completely at ease. Free.
I knew that if I continued down the path an actor takes, judgment was going to be with me every step of the way. It would be there for every performance, every agent I met, and every audition room I entered. What everyone else thought would always matter.
I decided that I would much rather be a duck with ruffled feathers and happy with myself than someone constantly striving and working toward validation from others, which was how I felt as an actress.
I had also started to hide behind the characters I was playing as a way to avoid being myself. That day, I resolved to find a different path, one I could walk down as me.
I gathered up my courage and withdrew from my program, which was terrifying. Dropping out meant letting go of the image I had of myself, and the image everyone else had of Stacey, the actor.
I had to let go of the idea of me, the idea I loved, the idea of who I wanted to be, in order to accept who I really was as a person.
Just as I was judged when acting, I knew I could also be judged for leaving it behind. But that simply didn’t matter anymore.
The best and most fulfilling realization came to me that day on the beach. I didn’t have to earn the right to be deemed good enough. I didn’t have to work for it. I didn’t have to do a song and dance to prove I was worthy.
The truth is there will always be judgment in life. There will always be someone to tell you that you aren’t smart enough, thin enough, or successful enough. You can’t change what people think. The good news is you don’t have to. If you believe in yourself, nothing else matters.
Sitting on that rock alone, appreciating the breeze in my hair and smiling at the ducks, I finally embraced the truth. I was already good enough. And it was in that moment of acceptance that I was truly free.
You can’t change people but you can change how you respond to them, which is what I did. Now, I acknowledge the criticism when it comes and immediately let it go. When someone offers support, encouragement, and love, I bring it in and allow it to raise me up higher.
The wonderful part of self-love is that once you know you are good enough already, there’s no way to go but up. The negativity fades and the positivity grows. Embrace the security, contentment, and inner peace that come with accepting yourself.
How can you accept yourself today? My best advice is in three small words: be a duck!
Let the judgment and criticism from others slide off your beak like water, swim how you want to swim, look goofy with your bum in the air, make silly sounds, do whatever makes you happy without caring what anyone else thinks, knowing you are wonderful exactly as you are right now.
Shout it from the rooftops and let the whole world know.
“I am good enough!”
Because you really are. So, give yourself permission to be you. Accept, believe in, and love yourself knowing you are already enough and you don’t need anyone else to tell you that. It is only once you accept yourself that you’ll be free to live the life you’ve imagined.
“Be who you want to be, not what others want to see.”
I learned that lesson from the ducks. And for that, I’ll be forever grateful.
Photo by ikon
About Stacey Lance
Stacey Lance is a lover of nature, animals and kettle cooked potato chips. She is an aspiring writer who would love to make a difference in the world and help people in whatever ways she can. She dreams of one day living by the ocean and owning an English bulldog.
Though I run this site, it is not mine. It's ours. It's not about me. It's about us. Your stories and your wisdom are just as meaningful as mine. 
“You can’t change people but you can change how you respond to them, which is what I did.” This one hit me on the head.. that takes courage, Stacey lance. Great post. Thank you.
Thank you for your comment, Sia! That’s very kind of you. It certainly is a rewarding feeling when you realize that we’re the ones with the power and not the people who judge us. We all have the courage inside of us to accept ourselves; we just need to trust it.
This was a beautiful blog…Loved the analogy of ducks & swans; brought smiles & giggles to my face reading it…:-) Made my day; thank you for sharing!
Aww, thank you so much! I’m so happy that my post made you smile. The ducks made me giggle too, when I was watching them. They’re so cute and goofy. Too often we worry about how we look and how others see us and we are afraid of what they will think. The ducks didn’t care about me at all! They were just having fun and trying to catch some lunch. Who knew ducks could be such good role models? Thank you for your kind words, it means a lot!
Thank you so much for this article. It got the point across and I loved the humor. Self love is so much harder than it should be.
I am not totally convinced, you left the acting study because
you would be judged every moment, but whatever we do, we will be judged. it is not quite easy ignore them without
going to Himalayas and be a monk.
Hahaha. Thank you for your comment, DE, and you are quite right. There is no way to escape judgement in life. As long as people know you, you will be judged in one way or another. That’s why I wrote, “just as I was judged when acting, I knew I could also be judged for leaving it behind. But that simply didn’t matter anymore.” So I have accepted that I will be judged no matter what I do, but because I accepted myself for who I am, the judgement no longer bothers me. It’s still there but it doesn’t affect me in the same way. Being a monk would be a way of escaping judgement but I don’t believe we have to escape it. Accepting ourselves without needing approval renders the judgement powerless against us, and leaves us free to live the way we want (without having to head for the hills!)
Hey Stacey, I am an actress. And I know exactly how you feel. Acting is so much fun to me and I too would like to see my face on the big screen and be interviewed on talk shows. The only person you have to prove yourself to is YOU. I loved reading this because I felt a connection to you and your story. Thank you for this.
Thank you very much for your positive feedback! I agree that most people make self love harder than it has to be. For me, it’s a daily practice to wake up and accept myself — especially when I see my hereditary dark under-eye circles and think, ‘ugh.’ It’s okay to want to change things about yourself — maybe you want to lose a few pounds, or find a job that’s more fulfilling, or exercise more — but we need to accept who we are right now, first, before anything else. We can make changes but it has to be done from a place of respect and love. We are worthy right now, as we are. Anyone who has tried to change because they feel bad about themselves knows that it isn’t healthy and it doesn’t work. Love first and the rest will come.
“Accepting ourselves without needing approval renders the judgment powerless against us, and leaves us free to live the way we want” –well said Stacey- I also ignore them as blips/noise compared to
all the good things happening in life.
Hi, Talya! Thank you for sharing and I’m happy to meet you. Acting is still in my heart and I will always love it. Connecting with people is so beautiful and inspiring and I love it when someone feels something because of my performance. I may return to the path one day, but at the time I was going through this, my heart was saying that I needed a break.
I wasn’t acting for the right reasons anymore. Instead of coming from a place of happiness and growth and sharing, it was simply me desperately trying to prove my worth. And as you said, the only person I have to prove myself to is me. I needed the time away to find myself again and that’s what I did. If I decide to return to the profession, it will be from a place of love and passion, not desperation.
Thank you for your kind words and I hope you keep believing in the beauty of your dreams. Know in your heart that you are good enough and can achieve whatever you set your mind to, no matter what anyone says. Much love and encouragement to you, Talya XO
I love this — it’s so true. And after 20 plus years of believing otherwise, I’m finally realizing it with a clarity I never have before and it’s incredibly freeing. Yet it’s still something I have to remind myself of every day. Like you, I often find those reminders in nature 🙂
I found a quote by Lucille Clifton the other day that I really like too :
“What they call you is one thing. What you answer to is something else.”
Your piece is a great reminder not to answer to anything less than who you really are 🙂 Thanks for that.
That’s a great attitude to have. I’m glad you’ve made the choice to look at the positive — life is too short for anything else. Thanks again for your insight and response!
I like the analogy to ducks because they can be goofy and content which to me is very adorable and endearing. I also feel endearment and love and respect to human beings that show their goofy, happy, sincere, yet vulnerable side because they are being true to themselves and to others. Thank you for reminding me that we don’t need to wear a mask for others but to love and accept ourselves and be true to our feelings. Treating ourselves and others the way we want to be treated (without judgment) will lead to more fulfilling relationships. As you put it, it doesn’t matter what others think of you but what you think of yourself that really matters.
This is how I worked through similar insecurities: I separated criticism of my work from criticism of me as a person. I am a writer and I work for a software company, so every thing I write (and everything designers design and every piece of code a developer codes) gets evaluated and, often, criticized. I’m at the point now where I actually enjoy getting criticism, because it means my team members actually care about the work I do and find it valuable. Nobody is on autopilot. We’re all on the same team, and my coworkers’ critiques constantly challenge me to do a better a job. It’s pretty nice.
Hey, there! I’m so happy my post helped you in your journey of self-acceptance. Thank you so much for your response, and I love that quote from Lucille. It’s so true, isn’t it? We aren’t defined by how others view us, but how we view ourselves. And we can either see ourselves as beautiful or not, worthy of respect or not. It’s totally in our hands. I know, sometimes it isn’t easy. We all have off days, and moments we aren’t feeling our best. But you know what? That’s life. Good day or bad day, we are always deserving of respect. And I believe that we have to love ourselves first before we can truly receive love from anyone else. If you don’t feel worthy, no amount of love from anyone else will resonate with you; you won’t accept it because you don’t believe you deserve it. Love yourself first, and then you can accept love from others. As for the people who judge and criticize you? I’m sure a duck would say, ‘water off my beak, pal. And you can kiss my feathered butt.’
HI Stacey,
Thank you so much for the kind words. I am planning to spend time for myself. I came up with this idea a few days ago. It’s crazy but I know in my heart that it will work out for me. I am going to spend a year in Paris to work on a film and a book, and improve my French skills. Sounds crazy but it will happen. I think we all need to take time out to regroup. 🙂
This post was funny, cute and true. I, too, lived my entire life worrying about what others thought of me and never feeling adequate. But unlike you, even though I discovered the key of self acceptance, I continue to struggle.
Six months ago, after spending months working on myself and trying to recover from a breakup, I learned that I needed self love and acceptance and once I found it, thought my life would change forever for the better. But soon after, I was back in the place of judging myself and others and finding hardship in my relationship with the world. I didn’t realize that accepting myself would take constant vigilance and practice to master.
About 75% of my days are spent with some suffering related to this. It’s hard work to self love and know you’re good enough is, but worth it. Everyday I hope for it to just stick. I feel it’s my life’s work and acknowledge it as such. I will break these bonds! 🙂 thanks for writing this post!
Hi, katyb! Thank you for your comment and I’m so glad to hear that you liked my post. I loved your comment because you have it absolutely right. Just as we find the ducks adorable and endearing because they act like themselves, we’re also drawn to people who accept themselves as well. Being around people who act naturally and are proud of who they are is inspiring and it empowers us to be the same. If the ducks had tried to be like the swans, they probably wouldn’t have been nearly as happy (they’d probably be uncomfortable too, trying to crane their necks that high). I also liked what you said about treating others with respect and listening without judgement — it absolutely leads to healthier and more fulfilling relationships. Thank you for your thoughtful response 🙂
Hi there! Thank you for your input and advice. That strategy sounds like a very wise one. As you said, sometimes people have to give us criticism so that we can improve in our work and their opinion can be very valuable. Just the other day I had a friend critique a cover letter (I thought it was awesome but it was covered in red pen!) And in those cases, they aren’t saying, ‘Stacey, you are a dummy. You can’t write cover letters well at all.’ They’re saying ‘here’s some tips to help you improve.’ I like your perspective and for showing us the positive side to judgement. You’re very right and it can sometimes be a very productive and helpful thing. I’m glad you have such a healthy understanding of it, and thanks for sharing!
Hi, Ellie! Thank you for the positive words you had for my post, it means a lot to me. I must say, though, that you are wrong about one thing — you aren’t unlike me at all! I also work at accepting myself every day. I also hoped that that day on the beach would be a magic cure, but it turns out that it’s a daily practice. I have to wake up every day and decide to accept myself. Some days it’s harder than others. And it doesn’t always stick. I’ll think that I’ve accepted myself and then I’ll go, ‘I should have dressed better today’ or ‘that person looked at me weird, what’s wrong with me?’ and I have to catch myself and accept myself all over again.
Here’s the great thing: it gets easier every day. Slowly, that struggling for 75% of your day is going to lessen. Soon, it might be 60%. Then 55%. Then maybe it jumps down to 40%. And soon, you barely give a thought to what someone is thinking about you. Soon, you know you are good enough and the doubts are fewer and fewer. Off days are going to happen — even celebrities get zits, feel bloated, and just want to stay in bed. But those days are going to be the exception.
I want you to know, Ellie, that you are enough as you are right this very second. No matter what your circumstances or the struggles you’re going through, you right now are worthy of respect. You don’t need to earn it or prove yourself. You are good enough already. But don’t take it from me — look inside and believe it for yourself. You can be anything you want to be, do whatever you want to do and achieve whatever you want to achieve. Feel the potential inside of you. A powerful exercise is simply looking in the mirror, looking into your own eyes and saying, “I am good enough.” It can be very moving. So go ahead and show yourself some love. You deserve it. Once you know that, the world is yours.
This is such a beautiful article and exactly what I need right now. Thank you!
Wow, such wise and inspiring words. Thank you so much for taking the time to respond with such thoughtfulness (and acceptance). Reading your words and hearing of your efforts provide me with lots of encouragement. Even though I know things in my heart, hearing others tell me they experience the same things really helps me to feel better and understood (and accepted!)
Your description of the thoughts that go through your head were both funny and familiar! I see the importance of just being aware of those thoughts. Forty percent days, here I come!
Thank you so much, Stacey!
Thank you so much, Abi! I’m very happy that my story was able to help you. It completely makes my day to hear that 🙂
You’re very welcome, Ellie, and thank you for reading my story and being open to hearing my thoughts. Reading other people’s stories helps me too, and Tiny Buddha has been inspiring me for months now. Sometimes just knowing that someone else has gone through the same struggles as you is comforting.
When I set out in writing this, I thought, ‘all the effort will be worth it if I can help just one person.’ It means the world to me to know I’ve helped to encourage you, and I fully believe you can and will overcome your struggles. “Most of the shadows of this life are caused by our standing in our own sunshine.” When you’re ready, you’ll move out of the way and let your light shine through. Much love on your journey. xo
This is so great, Stacey. Just lovely. Thank you!! Much love on your journey, too!
Stacey.Thank You for conveying your beautiful thoughts.It kind of freed me.I want to lead a joyous life rather than giving in to false ego always remaining unsatisfied in life.Yeah..good to be a duck….:)
Fantastic, inspiring post!!! 🙂 Thank you for sharing the wisdom you gained from nature, beautiful!!! I love when you said…”The wonderful part of self-love is that once you know you are good
enough already, there’s no way to go but up. The negativity fades and
the positivity grows. Embrace the security, contentment, and inner peace
that come with accepting yourself.” AWESOME!!! 🙂
this is incredible.
Am glad u have stopped chasing approval since you already are the lead in real life, Someone looks upto you somewhere .I always wanted that moment when I would be the hero until I realised that I already was playing the part in real life….. And acting is something that doesn’t leave you ….. Now since u have stopped chasing it, u might be surprised when it comes searching for you. All the best Stacey. be what nature meant you to be, simply wonderful
Hi, Madhu! Thank you so much for your comment. I am so happy to hear that my writing helped you on the journey of accepting yourself. Break those chains that restrict you from being yourself! I was so stressed out on the day I went to the beach but watching the ducks, I couldn’t help but smile and laugh! I loved them and appreciated them for being exactly the way they were. When I feel like judging myself or putting myself down, I remember the ducks and they remind me to be proud of who I am and that my quirks make me unique. Team duck all the way!
Hi there! Your comment made me feel so good, thank you so much. I’m very glad to hear that you enjoyed my story. It’s so neat to have someone quote me like that, haha. And really, the part you referenced sums up my whole journey.
After my decision to leave school, I was judged left, right and center. Some people were supportive and some people not at all. Sometimes it brought me down and made me feel like less of a person. Like because I left my program, I didn’t deserve to be treated the same way as before. I kept reminding myself of Maya Angelou. I would just repeat to myself ‘You have nothing to prove. You’re already good enough’ and it reminded me that I am ALWAYS worthy of respect and kindness. It doesn’t depend on how much money you make or how successful you are — you deserve respect. Period. And once you believe that in your heart, and know that you’re good enough just as you are, you truly feel at peace and secure. No more worrying about what anyone thinks. You _know_ you’re good enough and that you’re special and that is all that matters.
Thank you for sharing your light and for the lovely feedback. Look at yourself today and know that you are awesome. I like to say ‘without me, it’s just aweso.’
Thank you so much, Casey! That is so nice to hear!
Thank you! You are so right. Who could be the better lead in our life than us? I’m so glad to hear that you came to see your worth and realize that you are the star of your own life. No one else can take that away from you, no matter what. Thank you so much for your encouragement, best wishes!
I loved this! Thank you for posting. I’m glad I took time (and crossed off a bucket list item!) to go on a 3 day yoga retreat in February. It really helped teach me that “I have a lot more work to do.” (that’s from one of my program leaders on the retreat) I had to learn that life is too short to do something that makes ME unhappy. I hope to transition back into a career in wellness. I grow the most as a person when I’m helping others to change and evolve. <3
Thank you for such a beautiful response!!! 🙂 Wonderful words of wisdom, love, and encouragement! Okay, love the aweso! hehe. Enjoy your weekend!!
haha; I know right..:P, Actually; I totally get it because I have been an animal lover as long as I have memory & I used to do the same thing of Bird watching on a daily basis at my previous college; which was pretty much in the middle of two beaches & I used to sit there almost everyday atleast for a few minutes to clear my head….
It is really sad how much we will do for the approval of others. I guess it does make sense though. We instinctually want to be accepted into the “in” group. However this constant chase of approval is doomed from the start. We will never really be satisfied until we realize what others doesn’t matter. What matters is how we feel about ourselves. Like Hugh MacLeod said, the best way to get approval is not to need it.
Hey, Leah! I’m glad you enjoyed reading my post and thank you for your lovely comment. I’m so happy that you know what makes you feel fulfilled and content and I 100% encourage you to pursue that. I also love doing yoga — it makes me feel so centered and calm and connected to my body. Personal growth and fulfillment is important and I love to hear when people know what does that for them. We all have gifts to share with the world! Thank you for sharing!
Hey, Jules! I love the quote you referenced because it’s so true. When we search for approval from others, even if we get it, it can always be lost again because it’s coming from an outer source. When we accept ourselves and approve ourselves THAT’S when it cannot be removed unless we decide to take it away. We’ve got the power, and it’s only up to us to decide our worth. And you know what? There’s a good chance the people that are a part of the ‘in’ group haven’t accepted themselves, either. That’s why many people crave attention and praise — they need it because they don’t have it inside themselves. Be strong and proud of who you are — that’s where true contentment lies.
I love BE WHO YOU WANT TO BE, NOT WHAT OTHERS WANT TO SEE !!!!! If you ever bring out a book – I will buy it !!! x
A lot of what you wrote rang true for me. When I was young I felt
desperately insecure and wanted/needed attention from my family and felt
I didn’t get it. Later I sought and received adoration on stage (from
both dancing and acting). But one’s time on stage is momentary and, for
me, the glory was always so short lived and the criticism (mainly from
my peers) that came with it felt cruel and unwarranted. I felt as if I
was on a crowded highway and getting pushed off it. I sought fame and
fortune elsewhere but the outcome was much the same. Yet I also yearned
for the simple life, to be like the birds and horses I was surrounded
by as a child, free and without the need for approval, praise or fear of
unacceptance.
As I sit on my boat now, surrounded by ducks,
geese and swans, I realise all that (external) criticism has gone and,
mostly, so has the need for approbation from others. To some extent it
has gone because I have become more skillful in whom I choose as my
peers; a few people who will love and support me and give me
constructive criticism. I’ve also learned (to some extent) to be
self-critical in a loving way, to recognise when I’ve done wrong, hurt
others, etc and promptly admitted it. And, having been on the receiving
end of harsh criticism for so long, I must be vigilant to ensure I
don’t treat others similarly.
Yet, along with the quiet life
comes a sense of invisibility! For example, when I was a kid I’d
experiment with different – often outrageous – hair styles and colours
and get between 40 to 60 comments a day. Although I’ve always been
clean shaven, recently I grew a long white beard (all my own work!) and
it was a month or two before anyone passed comment.
That crowded highway has diminished for me and become a rather narrow path.
I wish you well and hope you enjoy your journey!
Thanks s much for this, just what I needed : )
Hi, Shaz! I didn’t make up that quote myself but I love it too. It reminds us to be true to ourselves and not change for anyone. Thank you so much for your compliment. I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed my post!
Hey there, John! Wow, thank you for sharing your experiences with me, it’s so wonderful how open you are. Sometimes we can bounce back and forth between sitting in nature and enjoying the simplicity and lack of judgement and sometimes, it’s okay to want some attention or critique ourselves (constructively) when we need it. It’s all about finding that balance, isn’t it? I’m happy to hear that you’ve grown through the years and have been able to moderate that flux to find your balance. It sounds like you have it worked out and are happy with where you are. Who doesn’t want to grow a long white beard now and then? It’s great to know that you are secure in yourself and do things because you enjoy them. A perfect example of being who you want to be — thank you so much for sharing and for your well wishes. All the best to you!
You’re very welcome! Thank _you_ for taking the time to read my post! It makes me feel so good to know that it helped you in some way and it’s such a reward for me to hear such nice comments. Thank you!
So beautiful. I am speechless. I am glad you will live a life with inner peace and freedom.
After some reflection, I do want to say one more thing. I personally find accepting oneself and appreciating others/the world are both important. They are actually related. Once we accept ourselves, we will have the confidence to find meanings from things we previously feared. Then, we can appreciate many things from a different perspective.
Best wishes.
Hi there! Thank you so much for your kind words. I completely agree with you! Accepting ourselves is the first step, and the most important, but it doesn’t have to stop there. Once we accept ourselves as we are, it’s easier to find beauty around us and to appreciate the good that comes our way. If we don’t accept ourselves, we may feel like we don’t deserve the good in our lives, or as you said, we fear things that may make us happy. Once we give ourselves permission to appreciate and enjoy life, the world opens up. I love your comment, thank you so much for your contribution. Best wishes to you too!
Wow, what an inspiring story! It reminds me so much of my own. I studied acting for a year in college and went to a couple auditions when I realized something was very wrong and I was pursuing it for the wrong reasons. I always wanted to be an actress, but dealing with that kind of critiscim ervery day plus often just beeing judged by the way I look or dress felt shallow to me and not like a lifestyle I would want to have. It´s hard to redefine your path in life and where you want to be but it all starts with knowing that your worth it and that you are good enough, without even doing anything. I´m still on my way of truely understanding and feeling this in my heart and hope someday I will honestly feel like im good enough. Thanks for sharing your inspiring words and keep on writing, it´s amazing 🙂 btw do you have a blog or something with more of your writing?