“You’re amazing!”

“You’re so strong!”

“I really admire you.”

You’d think I would like hearing those things. Compliments, and compliments that don’t involve body parts, are good things, right? 

The truth is, I never quite know how to respond. 

When people say I’m amazing, it feels like they are setting me in a different category. When they say I’m strong, I feel like I can’t show weakness without disappointing them. It’s like they use my awesomeness to holster their view of humanity, that somehow they are less mediocre because they know the amazing me. 

And that’s sad, because I am awesome, but I’m also flawed. I’m strong and exhausted and human. And they? They’re not remotely mediocre. 

The awesomeness is part of being human, along with the flaws and the joy and the pain. When people praise my strength and resiliency I wish I could turn into a mirror and they could see themselves strong and amazing as well. 

Because they are. You are. 

Awesome. 

Amazing. 

Flawed. 

Beautiful. 

Human.