judypatricia

Ever since I can remember, I had problems with the way I felt about myself and was terribly concerned that people looked at me and saw an ugly, fat, four-eyed little girl. I don't exactly know when my opinion on myself changed to a more positive one, but it did, sometime over the last couple of years. It might have had to do with being boyfriend-less for so long, or...I don't know. But I do know that I let things bother me a lot less now, than ever in my life, and that I'm done with settling; settling for peopleboth friends and loverswho don't appreciate me.

That said, here are two useless facts about me:
1. I prefer my french fries soggy, and most of the time, cold.
2. I never wear lipstick.

I am sharing with you now the middle and ending of a poem I absolutely love. I don't suspect many of you ever bother to read the quotes or poems I post on occasion, so I won't be offended if you skip over it entirely.

This was written sometime between 1540-something and 1607.

Content I live, this is my stay:
I seek no more than may suffice,
I press to bear no haughty sway;
Look, what I lack my mind supplies:
Lo, thus I triumph like a king,
Content with that my mind doth bring.

Some have too much, yet still do crave,
I little have, and seek no more:
They are but poor, though much they have,
And I am rich with little store:
They poor, I rich; they beg, I give;
They lack, I leave; they pine, I live.

I laugh not at another's loss,
I grudge not at another's gain:
No worldly waves my mind can toss,
My state at one doth still remain:
I fear no foe, I fawn no friend,
I loathe not life, nor dread my end.

Some weigh their pleasure by their lust,
Their wisdom by their rage of will;
Their treasure is their only trust,
A cloakd craft their store of skill:
But all the pleasure that I find
Is to maintain a quiet mind.

My wealth is health and perfect ease,
My conscience clear my choice defence;
I neither seek by bribes to please,
Nor by deceit to breed offence.
Thus do I live; thus will I die;
Would all did so as well as I!

from "My Mind to Me a Kingdom Is", Sir Edward Dyer