Inspiration From Dorothy Parker: Just Be Yourself, Dammit.

Just wanted to share a new dose of literary wisdom for you.

This quote is from one of my favorite American poets and writers, the late Dorothy Parker, in honor of her birthday, August 22, 1893.

This quote was taken from her poem, Observation:

If I don’t drive around the park,
I’m pretty sure to make my mark.
If I’m in bed each night by ten,
I may get back my looks again,
If I abstain from fun and such,
I’ll probably amount to much,
But I shall stay the way I am, 
Because I do not give a damn.

Originally published in: New York World (Aug. 16, 1925): V-3.

Live your life free of judgment, from yourself and from others. Free of fear of being different, of not being liked.

Just be YOU. Whoever the hell YOU are, whoever you want to be.

And to hell with anyone who doesn’t like you. It’s impossible to please everyone.

If you try to follow what you think other people expect of you, you’ll never be truly happy and fulfilled.

So don’t waste your precious time catering to the unrealistic expectations of others, of society and the world. Stop caring so much about what other people think of you.

Don’t repress your true nature for the sake of others. If people love you, they should accept you for who you are, not for who you are pretending to be.

Be your best, authentic, true self. Express yourself in whichever ways you want. Or don’t. You’re free to do whatever you choose.

For me, being myself means writing whatever I please, exploring my fantasies and desires with my partners however I choose, and feeling liberated in my sexuality.

If others want to judge me for just being me, or they don’t like my message, my writing, my way of being, they can kindly go fuck themselves.

My two cents – a tiny contribution to this Wednesday’s Wisdom.

What’s your favorite literary quote?

Until next time,

XXX
Lexi