Blog OrlandoStrong WeAreOrlando

Orlando pain, from a mother

| June 16th, 2016

I’m not a news anchor or politician or therapist.

I’m not qualified to report on why this horrific Orlando shooting happened, or what to do about it.

I’m just a mother whose family lives here in Orlando, only a few miles away from the Pulse nightclub where it happened.

I don’t have words for this tragedy.

But as a mother, I do have words for our children… and here are those words:

There will always be someone who believes you are wrong, or bad, or broken, or imperfect. But the truth is, we are all perfectly imperfect. Every one of us.

Live your life with passionate imperfection. Love your mistakes and so-called imperfections.

Never stoop to hate. Hate is easy, but love is hard. Very hard. Choose to love. Refuse to live an insignificant life.

The world is not changed by people who sort of care.

You do not need to “fix” yourself, because who you are is exactly right. And we will always, always love you for who you already are.

Written with love from a mother who is proudly involved in our Orlando LGBTQ community.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~#WeAreOrlando #OrlandoStrong #LoveOrlando

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There will always be someone who believes you are imperfect. (Click to tweet)

You do not need to fix yourself. Who you are is perfect. (Click to tweet)

Live your life with passionate imperfection. (Click to tweet)

Hate is easy. Love is hard. (Click to tweet)

When you can be yourself, you can change the world. (Click to tweet)

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About the author

Sally Hogshead

Sally skyrocketed to the top of the advertising world in her early 20s, fascinating millions of consumers for clients such as MINI Cooper and Coca-Cola. Since then, she’s published two New York Times bestsellers on the science of fascination, and is one of only 172 living members in the Speaker Hall of Fame. Over a million professionals have taken the Fascination Advantage® personality test to discover how others perceive their communication.

26 Comments

← Older Comments

Annette on June 20, 2016 at 5:40 pm

Amen Sally!
Nicola on June 20, 2016 at 12:29 pm

People with mental illness aren’t automatically violent, in fact homosexuality even used to be considered a mental illness. Anyone can have a hateful heart or be violent.
Jen on June 20, 2016 at 10:31 am

Reason #534 why you are such an inspiration, Sally. Thanks for sharing.
Michael Smale on June 18, 2016 at 1:11 am

Wonderful words from a wise woman. Thank you!
Cindy S. on June 17, 2016 at 3:31 pm

Nice thoughts…I would argue, Love isn’t hard. Love is easy, forgiveness is hard. Compassion and acceptance are the countermeasure to achieve forgiveness. <3
Jay Chernoff on June 17, 2016 at 2:20 pm

Thank You Sally!
Beautifully said!