How is it on the Inside?

My single friend sent me pictures of her brother's new triplets. I thought about how she must feel, looking into the faces of three bitty babies struggling for their survival in the NICU, and wondering if she'll ever marry and have a family.

Before I had children, I was faced with attending so many baby showers and wishing my life was different than it was. Outwardly, I was happy for the new mother. Inwardly, I had to figure out if the lack of children made me any different than I felt about myself.

Because of the fact that I concluded that my life couldn't be judged by what was happening to everyone else, I learned to love myself, no matter what my family ended up looking like. I gained self-confidence, contentment with who I was at the time, and hope for the future.

And, in the end, when we adopted two girls, I found that who I am on the inside is what I wish to replicate in my children. Often what comes from outside pressures is not the way I want to be remembered, but what comes from inside is the real me. I feel we should be constantly improving who we think we are on the inside, always updating, gaining new insights to others around us, accepting loving advice for ways to improve, so that, on the outside we're more acceptable to the people we cross paths with.