thick skin.

So, I tweeted the other day about how I needed “thicker skin,” with all these “haters” out here.  I was referring to a situation where there’s some misinformed people making judgments about me & other people based on unsubstantiated information.  What’s more, they have never asked me about it & more than that, I didn’t actually do anything wrong.  More than that, it actually affects a lot of people.  It’s just a disaster!

What I couldn’t say in 140 characters or less, is that it makes me sad to feel misunderstood & judged.  I just don’t have thick skin and criticism doesn’t just roll of my back.  I labor over it & retrace my steps, I feel remorse over my wrong doing, shame, guilt the whole shebang.  But when I feel I’ve been judged incorrectly I feel so helpless, it’s redonkulous.

Today, my good friend, J.F. & I who would both like to be published authors, were talking about how if we really want to “make it” in this cut throat world of 1-star Amazon reviews, we just gotta suck it up.  There will always be haters & there will always be those that misunderstand us.  There will always be those who mis-judge our motives or don’t like the ways we write, think, dress, do our hair, parent our children, etc.  Do we run and hide because people are afraid, intimidated by our ambition?  It’s tempting, actually.

But has God asked me to do these things or not?  I know there are some folks who think a woman needs to be at home, and certainly not pursuing a Masters of Divinity.  But, no matter what, I’m moving forward, yall.  Like or not, here she comes.

I realize I’m putting myself out here trying to build my blog, write a book, get a degree and so forth but I’m thinking that realistically I just need to toughen up & realize it comes with the territory.  My identity being firmly rooted in my relationship with God, my husband and good friends who know me well.  I think that’s the lesson for the day – just toughen up & trust the Lord in His plan for my life.