It's All In How You Look At Things

I read a quote from the book "Pippi Longstocking" by Astrid Lingren that I thought was a great image of embracing things that others might see as weaknesses... and a great example that life is all about how you look at things.

The section from the book is:

"The children came to a perfume shop. In the show window was a large jar of freckle salve, and beside the jar was a sign, which read: DO YOU SUFFER FROM FRECKLES?

What does the sign say?” ask Pippi. She couldn’t read very well because she didn’t want to go to school as other children did.
It says, ‘Do you suffer from freckles?’” said Annika.
Does it indeed?” said Pippi thoughtfully. “Well, a civil question deserves a civil answer. Let’s go in.”

She opened the door and entered the shop, closely followed by Tommy and Annika. An elderly lady stood back of the counter. Pippi went right up to her. “No!” she said decidedly.

What is it you want?” asked the lady.
No,” said Pippi once more.
I don’t understand what you mean,” said the lady.
No, I don’t suffer from freckles,” said Pippi.

Then the lady understood, but she took one look at Pippi and burst out, “But, my dear child, your whole face is covered with freckles!”

I know it,” said Pippi, “but I don’t suffer from them. I love them. Good morning.”

She turned to leave, but when she got to the door she looked back and cried, “But if you should happen to get in any salve that gives people more freckles, then you can send me seven or eight jars."

Quote taken from here.

Not that having freckles is a weakness (obviously it is not), but it is seen in the story as something to be "suffered." Instead, she says it is a strength, and something for which she is extremely proud. Instead of it being a weakness or something she is ashamed of, it is a strength.

Life is all about how you look at things.

"It doesn't matter what you look at, it's what you see." - Henry David Thoreau