Strength

Your esteem is not
how much money you make
is not
how friendly you are
is not
how smart you are
it is
your character
your ability to flow against the tide
like salmons
against the wind
against the fashionable
against stupidity.

your esteem is
your precious moments with the family,
your soul-ful side,
your inner beautifulness,
your golden heart,
your bliss to share and love
deft expressions of
being.