My mother used to tease that my true mother was my books (
"tu madre los libros").
This summer, rather than sticking my nose in a book, I spent more time with friends and family. They offered motherly wisdom.
One wise and vivacious friend said, "those that love you will love you regardless, those that hate you will hate you regardless." I had a slap-my-forehead moment after that one. I appreciate those that love me despite my quirks and annoyances. And I have stopped bending over backwards to appease those that will hate me regardless. Freedom to be myself, baby. I still believe in love and respect for all because we are one. But the bending over backwards was a bit much so I've stopped that $hit right there.
Another wise and true friend said, "
parece que nunca se les ha presentado el diablo!" Which roughly translated means, "It seems like they've never met the devil!" When you have struggled to overcome hardship, a bump in the road doesn't have to throw you for a loop. I am grateful for growing up in a low-income ethnic minority urban community. It made me hone the powers of "I'm-ma figure this $hit out, dammit" in order to survive.
Finally, an elder mentor told me about a plaque that she saw on a colleagues desk that read: "Those that love me, may they love me. And may God cripple those that hate me so I know them by their limp." Or something like that. I'm assuming the maiming prayer is metaphorical. But I do believe that those that hate are limping. God bless them.