“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those that matter don’t mind!”

– Dr. Seuss

Like a river, let your identity flow. Unleash your thoughts, uncork your feelings, because you are your own master artist. You’re the author, writing your life’s book with the ink of authenticity. You’re the sculptor, chiseling your existence out of the marble of the universe.

Speak your truth, bold and clear, like the sound of a trumpet in the silence. Why? Because the gallery of the world is filled with critics. Some will applaud, some will jeer. The ones who jeer? They’re just visitors, passing through, their opinions as fleeting as footprints in the sand. They don’t truly matter in the grand narrative of your life.

Now, the ones who applaud even when your music is out of tune, those are your audience, your tribe. They are the ones that matter. They value the authentic you, applauding your highs, comforting you in your lows. They revel in your authenticity, in your raw, unfiltered melody.

They are your true companions on this wondrous journey, hitchhiking across the cosmos. They don’t mind your missteps. They dance with you, even when you stumble and fall.

So, like a bird set free, spread your wings and soar high. Sing your song, paint your canvas, write your story. The ones that truly matter won’t mind, and those who mind, well, they’re not part of your orchestra.

Stephen Boudreau serves as VP of Brand and Community at Virtuous Software. For over two decades, he has helped nonprofits leverage the digital space to grow their impact. To that end, Stephen co-founded RaiseDonors, a platform that provides nonprofits with technology and experiences that remove barriers to successful online fundraising. He is an avid (but aging) soccer player, audiobook enthusiast, and the heavily-disputed UNO champion of his household.

Copyright ©2023 Stephen Boudreau.