I Yam What I Yam

The summer before I went into 6th grade was one that I remember quite well.

Our local movie theater had a deal for elementary aged kids that for like $10 a month, we could see a movie a week.  And not only that, it included popcorn, a drink and our choice of candy.  (Junior Mints!!!)

I don't remember all of the movies that I saw that summer, but I do remember watching a Little Rascals show where this headhunter ran around saying "Yum, yum eat 'em up."  (I don't remember anything else about it except that.  I swear we drove my mom nuts for weeks saying "Yum, yum eat 'em up" any chance we could.)

Another movie we watched was a Popeye cartoon.  Now, I never really did care for Popeye himself.  I hated spinach, I didn't like his taste in women and I always felt more conected with Wimpy.  ("I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.")

I did, however, like Popeye's catch phrase, "I Yam What I Yam."  

Too often, we let others dictate who we are.  Whether it's friends, family or magazine covers, we try to change ourselves so we can be more like someone else.  

Don't be someone else!

We have all said one time or another, "Man, if I could only run a mile as fast as he did" or something similar.  The problem with this is that we compare our weaknesses to other people's strengths.  I don't care who you are, if you take the worst part of yourself and compare it the best part of someone else, you are definitely going to be down on yourself.

Don't let the world tell who you are or who you should become.

Remember the words of Popeye: "I Yam What I Yam! "

And that should be good enough for anyone else.