My guess is that everyone has their fair share of critics. As long as I expose myself to public scrutiny, I must expect a growing opposition who show in different ways their dislike and distaste. I'm surprised I don't have more critics than I do, but I have my fair share. Here is a simple rule of thumb: if you are a leader you will be criticised. If you have a sphere of influence of any kind, you will be critcised. If you are passionate about the things that count, you will be criticised. What does count is how you handle all of that.
This year more than any other, I would say, I have been totally comfortable with myself and the stands I have taken, and have been immune to the critics, essentially ignoring them. I think if I were less secure I might have jumped up to defend myself, but I didn't have to.
"I'd rather be a film maker than a film critic." There are those who do, and there are those who criticise those who do. I'd rather be a doer than a critic, any day. Funnily enough, when I look carefully at critics, I often discover that the more critical a person is, the less they've probably done. Spending our energies criticising others is a waste of precious time.
Teddy Roosevelt: "It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood."
- I am more than happy to offend self appointed critics.
- I refuse to waste time defending my actions but am happy to own both my wins and my losses and move on.
- I know that an insult from a fool is actually a compliment and a compliment from a fool is actually an insult.
- I choose who I am accountable to and know that critics will also be held accountable for the criticisms they wield so easily and so quickly.
- I don't get into arguments. I avoid arguments and work toward win-win situations.
I have ended yet another year unyoung, untall, undark, unhandsome and am very happy with that. Criticism washes over me and is forgotten.
"Run hard, be strong, think big!" - Percy Cerutty
