Loved Just As You Are

Eleanor came home from high school feeling tired and out of place. She knew she was supposed to figure out what she wanted and where she wanted to be, but she couldn't sort her thoughts after listening to her classmates. 

In one class, students spoke of university and what they wanted to be for their parents. She thought, 'What about what I want for me? Won't I be living with the decision?'

At another time, Eleanor overheard girls who woke early to look pretty to impress. She questioned, 'Shouldn't love come naturally? Why should catching a mate be stressful?'

Eleanor had always been a quiet watcher and high school was placing her in crowds, to which she was unfamiliar.

Janet, Eleanor's best friend, had the tendency to follow the crowd and was worried about an upcoming presentation "Elly! What should I do? I really want to make an impression, but I'm afraid they won't like what I present. I've worked really hard, and I've tried to add everything they told me to."

Eleanor smiled reassuringly at Janet and replied, "You will be fine as you are. Remember the hard work you put into this because it is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not. As long as you're being Janet, you should be loved just as you are.”

Inspired by “It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.” -Andre Gide,