Thanks, but I like me just the way I am

Dear those of you who have worked so hard to let me know I'm full of faults and imperfections for how I chose to live my life (you know who you are),

Let me start by stating with utter certainty that I know I am in no way shape or form perfect. I know that I am the furthest possible point from perfect on any map.

That being said let me now state that I am really just fine and dandy being me. I appreciate all the comments and remarks about my faults and imperfections that I have received in recent weeks, but really those faults are a part of me and I embrace them. Now I'm not stating that there is no room for improvement or that I don't strive to better myself because I truly do on a daily basis try and make myself a better person. But I'm OK knowing that I will never be perfect. I'm just fine knowing that I have lived a full life long before joining the Church in which I have done and been many things, and let me say none of them am I ashamed of in any way shape or form. Each and every action helped me become who I am and without them I would not be the person I am learning to love today.

For that reason I will always turn up the radio when Brass Monkey, The Joker or Back in Black comes on because those songs are part of my past and I love the memories that go with them.

For that reason I will not deny that I enjoy playing on-line computer games. Or that I love Douglas Adams books & the Twilight series. Or that I'm giddy that there is a new Star Trek movie coming out. Or that I would be ecstatic to sit and watch all the Lord of the Rings movies in succession in my PJ's with a great deli sandwich. Because geeky or not I love the way these indulgences make me feel.

For that reason I will not apologize or feel ashamed that I am a working mother. I have to do what my family needs me to do and if that means I work then I will do it. And in doing so teach my son that personal responsibility is important and your family will need different things from you at different points in your life. The truly important lesson is in how you spend the time you have with your family, not the total quantity of time you spend with them.

For that reason I will never tell a friend that lives a different or alternative life style from mine that they can not be a part of my life or that we cannot be friends anymore because their agency is theirs and the worth of every, EVERY soul is great in the eyes of the Lord, not just those who live the same choices as me. And most of my friends from my past have helped me through tough times without any judgment or ill will against me, for that I am forever grateful.

For that reason I will always believe that it is more important to teach rather than judge because I have been judged more in my life in the last 2 years then any person deserves to be judged and let me tell you it feels awful to always have to worry about what you do and say and how others will tear you apart because of it.

For that reason I will always support the freedom of speech, both yours and mine. Men & women have died for this right, respect it! If you don't agree that's fine, but remember that for everything you feel passionate about there is someone out there that feels just as passionately about the opposite point of view; and they have the right to.

I could go on and on, but I just wanted to address the issues that have been brought to my attention by people in my life, and assure the universe that I really am OK being me. Heck I'm starting to get really good at loving me. Imperfections, religious beliefs, political views, choice in music, health problems and all. But thanks for the concern and all. I appreciate the worrying you've done for my soul, though I think we'll be just fine.

Sincerely,
Me