I saw a meme today that set my mind to reflect. Sitting in a cafe in Mexico city, I decided to write this post.
There was a life I always wanted for myself, but it alluded me. Never in my wildest dreams did I believe that it was attainable. The convergence of technology, economy, my talents, and my openness to do things that others would not even contemplate, aided by courage, has transformed my life into exactly that life of which I always dreamed. I live on three continents now. My network of like-minded friends is global. I have learned to chose my friends well. I have learned to feel no fear. The number of languages I speak is largely unmatched. I can travel almost anywhere and understand what people are saying, even if I have not studied the local language as it is likely related to one I do speak. I have three completely unrelated occupations.
I owe my life to not only my intelligence, endless lust for learning, and talents, but also to those that tried to destroy my life. As I see it, the life they tried to destroy was not with living anyway.
They made me resourceful. They hardened by sensitivity to things that do not matter, freeing me of caring about what small people took as a measure of others and myself. They opened my eyes to the blackness of petty people and why such people should be avoided. They taught me to learn to pick my friends wisely.
Looking at this meme I saw this morning, I came to realize that there are people that once mattered to me that not only do not matter to me anyone, but whom the absence of has been a blessing. There is not even one living ex-friend that I would chose to have in my life again. I'm glad they are gone.
In their stead are real friends, people I would be willing to lay down my life for. These former friends, many of whom joined in the harassment I once experienced, live boring and small lives. There is not one that I envy. There is not one that I respect.
When sand invades an oyster, a pearl is created. I have many pearls and I am thankful for them.
