Who You Are and What They Say

I can't really write much now as I'm at work (shh...) but this came up on my Google Reader and it was too good to not share. This one goes to all my confident, deliberate, purpose-driven friends - y'all know who you are - keep dreaming and believing.

Who You Are And What They Say
If you are confident, they will say you are arrogant.
If you are deliberate, they will say you are too sure of yourself.
If you have a sense of purpose, they will say you are self-absorbed.
If you know who you are, they will ask, "Who are you, anyway?"
If you believe in kindness and compassion, they will say you are naive.
If you are a dreamer, they will say "join the real world."
If you are a rebel, they will try to shut you down.

The instructions include:

• Rein it in.
• Slow it down.
• Wait it out.
• Pull it back.
• Take your time.
• Play it safe.

But you will know:
They are envious because they want what you have.
They are afraid of change even as they crave it.
They are projecting their own regret into resentment of you.

It's not all bad news: some of them will sort themselves out and end up joining you. Because you are a good person and have had plenty of false starts of your own, you'll understand and welcome them warmly. We've missed you! You'll say. It's about time you made it.

As for the others, well, you will remember what Gandhi said:
"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."