Are You Somebody?

Earlier this year me and my mom had the privilege of going to see President Obama inaugurated for a second term. We knew this was history in the making and probably would be a long time before we would witness something as monumental. We wrote our state congressman to get tickets so we could get closer view of things instead of just standing around. It was amazing!!! We were right by the sidewalk so we could see all the famous people walking by and some would stop and take pictures with and for us. Of course there were people of all kinds there. An actor stopped and was taking pictures and this woman yells out “IS HE SOMEBODY???”  The actor that was initially bright and happy instantly turned cold and aloof. It was obvious he was offended by her so rudely yelling that out. I was offended for him so I could imagine how he felt. When she yelled that out I instantly thought what would make him “somebody”? I mean isn’t everyone “somebody”? I may not be famous or rich but I consider myself “somebody”.  If you base who you are on what others think of you or your status in society then you are possibly setting yourself up to be let down. We have all seen those tragic stories of people that were famous and rich but still miserable because they lacked self esteem and worth.  People thought they were living the life while all the while they were suffering in a private hell because they didn’t feel they were anybody special. Do you feel like you are anybody special? So many times we don’t feel special because someone else doesn’t when it’s our job individually to see the good in ourselves. So many people are broken on the inside and seek others to fill the voids that are within. I was that way at some point if I could just have a man I would be happy, if I just could have a good group of people around me I could be happy, if I could be accepted I would be happy. What I realized as I grew which happened a lot after 30 is that I can’t count on anyone else to fulfill me. Anybody else is an enhancement not an all that beats all. If my happiness is based on if someone is there or no, or if someone else behaves a certain way I will be miserable more than not. We all know that people can be flaky at best and if my self esteem was based on that I would never be happy with myself. I also find it unfair to expect any one person to be your happiness. If you can’t be happy with yourself then how in the world can you expect anyone else to? I make it a point to be my biggest cheerleader, first to compliment me, and pat myself on my own back. I don’t expect the man I love to complete me but to enhance my completeness. I know this all sounds like common sense but so many of us don’t get these simple things and wonder why even when we get that man or whatever we are still not happy. Start from within….love you first…and know that you are “somebody” even when nobody but you knows it.