Respect

You Deserve Respect:
Goodness know, you may not get it. There may be days when you feel Rodney Dangerfield had nothing on you. You may even decide that getting respect is not a battle you choose to fight, or something that's necessary for getting things done.
But just because respect is not forthcoming doesn't mean it isn't due. You are deserving of respect for your parenting skills, your knowledge about your children and their needs, your tireless efforts on their behalf, your faith and love in the face of tremendous challenges.
If there are people in your life - whether professionals or family members - who don't pay you the proper respect, know that the shortcoming is theirs, not yours. Meanwhile, make sure you're paying yourself plenty.
Terri Mauro
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Yada yada yada..... too much energy wasted on "respect". What do I care who respects me. The people I love do and I respect myself - that's all that's needed. I've also learned that you need to be careful *who* respects you. It's kind of like "pretty is as pretty does". I don't want to be respected by some people. Mostly because their priorities and what they hold respectful is all out of whack - in my opinion. Some people respect those who are leaders of the community - but what do those people really stand for. How do *their* families view them??? I lived that crap for way too many years. Some people respect those who make a lot of money - paaaaalease!!! We've already talked about how this country pays those who do little way too much. Those who REALLY matter in our lives - our kindergarten teacher, the person who cleans the sewers, the farmers who make it possible for us to eat - THEY aren't paid near enough but people who ENTERTAIN us - well, they are way over-payed. So I don't put much stock in other people's respect.

That saying that you have to know who you are and whose you are - that's true. S has really schooled me in what is *really* important.