It Is Still Just An Opinion—Celebrity Status or Not

Kimberly Tyler Living With It Public Health Advocate Kimberly Tyler is a content editor and illustrator. She worked... Send Message Subscribe: Kimberly Tyler

Wednesday, September 12, 2007
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No matter what anyone else believes about me--be it positive or negative--at the end of the day, their belief about me is still just an opinion. If someone believes that I am kind, that does not immediately translate for me that I then must be a kind person. If someone believes that I am lazy, that d...

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Opinion or not to opinion that is the question.
Susan Cagley
Wednesday, September 12, 2007 at 04:26 AM
We forget that is what they are opinions. I've often heard the phase," Opinions are like butts everyone has one." This is ture and I know that I have made myself a victim of this game. I let others opinions hurt me because I felt that they had to be ture. Another phase I herd a lot was, "The truth only hurts when it should." Here again is words that we are suppose to believe. I have let these saying be the part of my life that all most destory me. A third phase that comes to mind is, " Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." This one is so wrong. Words do hurt and can leave a scare that can never heel. I have let my self fall prey to these words for so long. They have made my depression worse only because I have not let go of the words I have herd. I have let them shape my life and bring me down. I will pull my self up and let God put back on the path he has chosen for me. Thank you all for being my friend. Take care.

re: Opinion or not to opinion that is the question.
Kimberly Tyler
Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 11:34 PM

Dear Susan,

Thank you for sharing other well-known phrases that are commonplace and too well known and taken in by others--particularly we in the mental health community.

I agree that words hurt. Judgmental opinions hurt like all get out, but it is up to us to consider the source and know for ourselves what and who we are. Dealing with any illness is difficult enough without others sharing their opinions that we must be bringing it on ourselves, we lack discipline, we do not do enough.

We need to be listening to those who genuinely care about our well-being. We need to recognize for ourselves what is true or not about who we are rather than allowing another's opinion to become our own.

Choosing our own path is a good way to put it, and I thank you for that. God is powerful, and faith is too. If we are standing in our own integrity and doing our very best, who is left to judge? If you have not walked in illness' shoes, do not even think for a moment you know everything by perception. Perception is not the full of the reality.

Thanks, Susan.

Best,
Kimberly Tyler