Do you remember in the old Popeye cartoons how Popeye would often say “I yam what I yam” (I am what I am)? Lately I’ve been giving a lot of thought to that statement and how the people in my life handle the less than perfect me. I know that I’m far from perfect, and I have done a pretty good job of identifying things about myself that I’d like to improve upon. I also know that overall, I’m a decent person.

What I’ve had a hard time coming to terms with are people who don’t like me for who I am, but like who they think they can turn me into. In many cases I believe that they truly have my wellbeing in mind, but I have to wonder why they don’t accept me for who I am. Trying to encourage me to make positive change is always a good thing, but pushing, and them being unable to accept that I can’t, don’t know how to or won’t become the person that they envision is something I don’t know how to handle.

I think we all want to become better at something. We all have people in our lives who are struggling in some way, but do yourself and that other person a favor and love them for who they are, right now. Otherwise, why are they in your life at all?

19/90