With an infectious charisma and unabashed sense of self, drag queen RuPaul doesn't feel the need to justify his choices to anyone. An 11-time Emmy winner and the visionary behind "RuPaul's Drag Race," a reality TV phenomenon with franchises all around the world, RuPaul has helped empower those in the LGBTQ+ community and revolutionized the portrayal of drag culture in mainstream media — two groups he's proudly represented since first coming into the public eye three decades ago. His quote here serves as a reminder of the importance of accepting your own unique personality. Rather than waste time waiting for validation, find the happiness that comes from being true to yourself, and invite others to bask in your confidence and positivity.

When asked about his creative songwriting process in a 2015 interview, Black Francis, the front man for the indie rock band the Pixies, mused about how his music has become more complex over time. He observed that children often notice simple details that adults can miss, because young people’s minds aren't bogged down with the complications of life. There is beauty in simplicity, but finding it often gets harder over time. “When you get older, you stop seeing things,” Francis reflected. “As your brain becomes more full of things and full of more music, it becomes harder to see something, to write something simple.”

In her 1961 essay "On Self-Respect," writer and cultural icon Joan Didion laid out one of the most essential truths about self-love. When we are accountable for our words and actions — and act with integrity even in the face of adversity — we are far more likely to find pride, confidence, and respect for ourselves. Taking responsibility is not always easy, but it’s a worthy pursuit. As Didion wrote, “people with self-respect exhibit a certain toughness, a kind of moral nerve; they display what was once called character.”