But at long last she had some privacy and could go more than ten minutes without someone getting in her business, informing her that everything she did was wrong. As if she didn't already know that.

Oh, how Vincent wished he could tell his sisters how unexpected everything was. He wished they could sit down at the table, today, in the sunlight, so that he could tell them everything. Once, a long time ago, before we knew who we were, we thought we wanted to be like everyone else. How lucky to be exactly who we were.

She once told me that anyone who gets married had better like herself, because there's nobody else in this world that she'll ever really know, not truly.

When nobody else celebrates you, learn to celebrate yourself. When nobody else compliments you, then compliment yourself. It's not up to other people to keep you encouraged. It's up to you. Encouragement should come from the inside.

You're not really free until you know you're not competing with anyone else. This

Be secure enough in who you are that you don't live to please people. As long as you're doing what God has put in your heart, you don't need to look to the left or the right. Stay focused on your goals, and God will get you where you're supposed to be.

Quit comparing your gifts, your looks, your success to someone else. Be you! You are powerful, you are anointed, you are gifted, you are beautiful. Nobody can do you like you can do you.

The only competition you have is with yourself, to be the best that you can be.

When we start competing with people, we get distracted, we lose focus, and before long we're wasting time on things that are not moving us toward our purpose.

Be wary of people who play up to your weaknesses as a way to convince you that you need them in your life. They'll try to make you think you're not smart enough on your own. You're not talented enough, and you need them to make up for what you're lacking. Don't believe those lies.

Know that the "Best Possible You" may not be as successful as your neighbor, but that's okay. The best you may not be as thin as your sister, but that's fine. The best you may not be as talented, as dynamic, or as outgoing as your co-worker, but that's all right, too. Be comfortable with the person God made you to be. You can't get distracted and lose your focus by comparing yourself to others. Run your own race.

The good news is, nobody can be a better you than you.