Self-Confidence

In the past I have kicked myself for not listening to my friends and family when they gave me advice, particularly dating advice.  I have had the tendency to pick less than worthy people in much of my past, and they were always trying to help and for the most part they have been dead on... What their opinions did though was push a wedge between myself and them and maybe even push me closer to said 'dude'.  A couple years back I made a pact with myself to take heed to what my loved ones say.  To consider it, not necessarily live by it but to pay attention.  The warning signs they tend to see are usually valid. 

I have recently learned another lesson, that is that some of those opinions are just that, opinions.  Anyone who has an opinion on your dating life to the point of trying to sway you rather than just call your attention to something is stepping out of line.  In a relationship there are only two people who have any idea what is actually going on.  It gets far too convoluted to let friends and family too far into the details of your relationship.  It creates biases that are very difficult to overcome and it can very potentially ruin a friendship or create undue hostility.  So, lesson learned, I'll mark it as a win! 

My point would be that we all know our own circumstances the best, we all know what we want, we all know what we'll put up with, we all know our own experiences, it's just sticking to it and trusting yourself that is the hard part... but it's imperative.

'Put your future in good hands - your own.'  ~Author Unknown

'It's not who you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not.'  ~Author Unknown

'Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside of them was superior to circumstance.'  ~Bruce Barton

'You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
You are the guy who'll decide where to go.'
~Dr. Seuss

'If you doubt yourself, then indeed you stand on shaky ground.'  ~Henrik Ibsen

'Nothing reduces the odds against you like ignoring them.'  ~Robert Brault,

'The man who acquires the ability to take full possession of his own mind may take possession of anything else to which he is justly entitled.'  ~Andrew Carnegie