Coralee - A Parable

There was a girl named Coralee
Who was as smart as she could be

She was also brave and good
And tried to do the best she could

Coralee worked every day
She hardly ever stopped to play

She went to school
And worked real hard
She cleaned the house
And mowed the yard

Coralee did all she should
But never felt like she did good

She'd always ask
After a task

Did I do it right?
As good as I might?

The response she got
Was always curt
And Coralee's feelings
Were always hurt

But that didn't stop Coralee
From trying to be the best she could be

She listened more so she could do
The things that others wanted her to

She'd cry herself to sleep at night
Hoping tomorrow she'd get it right

But tomorrow never came
You see
They never appreciated
Coralee

One morning Coralee awoke
And decided it was all a joke

Pleasing others was an impossible mission
It was time for her life to have a redefinition

Coralee would do what she wanted to
What made her happy and feel good too

She would always be brave and kind and good
And fill her days with the things she should

She still went to school
The yard stayed mowed
The house stayed clean
And her efforts showed

Praising herself became
Coralee's way
And she went to sleep happy
Every day

Nothing had really changed you see,
Only the inside of Coralee

And that made everything better.

Be like Coralee.  Be the best you can be.  Praise yourself.  Cook what you like to eat.  Make whatever art you like to make.  Decorate your house to make yourself happy.  Sing the song you want to sing.  Dance when you want to.

You can take good care of yourself and be self-affirming without being selfish.  And when you love yourself, and treat yourself well, it increases your capacity to be good to others.

Try as hard as you can to be your own cheering section.  You are a wonderful, unique creation with gifts no one else can bring.  I spent years being an approval junkie.  I was afraid to share my gifts until someone told me they were good enough to share.  I learned to be like Coralee.  And it has made everything better.