Read this or don't. I don't care.

I had my birthday a couple months ago. The great thing about being closer to forty than thirty is that I care less about what people think about me. I'm not saying I don't care about people, but I have come to the point in my life where someone's good or not-so-good opinion of me does not cause me to lose sleep at night. I am happy with who I am and nobody can take that away from me. The only person's opinion that matters to me is Secret Agent Man's. When it comes to the opinion of others, my motto is, "Do they put a roof over your head? Do they feed your children? No? Then, who gives a rat what they think?!" S.A.M. puts the food in my belly and clothes on my back. I care about what he thinks. Him and no one else. Well, and my mother. I care what my mother thinks. Especially when I write my articles. I don't want to humiliate her. So, I am mindful to put the filter on so I don't embarass her. And my dad. I care what he thinks, too. He fed me and clothed me for a long time. And then there is Voices Carrie. I'd be upset if she was upset with me. And my newspaper readers. I care what they think. Someone sent me a clipping of one of my articles with red pencil circling the grammar mistakes! Who does that? Who has time to do that? Then there are the children. I want my own children to like me and the kids at church, too. I hope they enjoy being with me and enjoy the lessons I plan for them. And the kids at school. I hope they like the art projects. I'd be sad if they thought I was boring. But that's it. Those are the only people whose opinion matters. But then there was the lady that I accidently took the right-of-way away from and she mouthed the words, "Are you an idiot?!" That hurt. She had no idea she ruined my day. I mouthed back the words, "I'm sorry," but she didn't mouth back, "It's okay," she just drove on. If only she knew what I good person I was, she wouldn't have acted like that. So, there ya go. I don't care what people think of me, except for the few I mentioned and you. I just don't care.