laramie

You deserve recognition for what you accomplish - regardless of how it compares to the accomplishments of others.

You deserve consideration as a human being, regardless of how much or little you accomplish.

You have your own unique beauty, which does not brook comparison to others.

If I were drawing a bouquet of flowers I would not try to show each flower as some ideal, perfect bloom. I would draw each one as it is: echoing the shape of each petal, the unique configuration of each bloom with leaves and stems and negative space. And therein lies the beauty.

No characteristic of yours that can be compared to the characteristics of another is the source of your beauty. Your beauty is in the unique combination of all the characteristics that make you who you are. Be true to that and your beauty is incomparable. Some may prefer the lily, or the orchid, the daisy, or the iris to the rose. But that need not concern the rose.

When I volunteered to do layout for The Muse (Newsletter of the Midwest Fiction Writers, affiliate of the Romance Writers of America), I thought I was just doing production. But they are calling me an 'Editor.'