Me, Myself and I

"If you can sit by yourself, doing nothing to distract yourself, needing no one, and still feel happy, then you have achieved inner happiness." - 7 New Ways to Find Happiness, by Deepak Chopra for Oprah.com http://www.oprah.com/spirit/7-New-Ways-to-Be-Happy/2

"If you allow your self-image to be at the mercy of unpredictable events and unreliable people, your happiness will be forever on a chaotic roller coaster ride! Happiness must always be an inside joy!" - 8 Ways to Forgive and Forget, by Karen Salmansohn for Oprah.com
http://www.oprah.com/spirit/8-Ways-to-Forgive-and-Forget

This is my focus right now, achieving inner happiness and forgiveness. I have come to believe Mr. Chopra's philosophy that most people have a false sense of happiness centered on material things, their job, other people, etc. Jobs can be lost (especially in this recession) and people can let you down, so you have to have something to sustain you. Having a sense of self and a strong faith allows you to achieve inner happiness. Forgiveness sets you free to move on without resentment. Karen Salmansohn says to focus on gratitude in order to forgive. I am so grateful to be healthy, happy, and to have so many people to share my life with that I have little time to dwell on those who have wronged me.

Vitiligo Point of View
I attended my first unofficial summer event of 2010, a Memorial Day party where everyone was dressed in their teeny, tiny, hot new summer looks (temperatures reached near 100 degrees, so it was very literally hot!). I had my usual reservations about showing too much skin, but the weather and the idea of being surrounded by friends laughing and having a good time was a big incentive to shed the layers and get out. I wore cute little short, shorts to show off the new vanilla and caramel tones that now grace my legs. I have truly reached that inner happiness because my Vitiligo, although it was very pronounced on my exposed hands, arms, feet and legs, was no where on my mind (and seemingly no one else's) during that party. Guys were staring at me, but it was to flirt and ask me for my number. I gave out no numbers, but I had a blast. Are you ready to party?