A lesson in personal freedom, from Rush Limbaugh.

From Part 2 of Rush Limbaugh on "The Today Show":

JAMIE GANGEL: What did you learn from rehab?

RUSH: You know, I actually thank God for my addiction, because I learned more about myself in rehab than I would have ever learned otherwise. There was a time where I desperately cared what people thought of me. Desperately.... Not professionally. I always somehow knew that that didn't matter. But personally. When you're worried about what people think, you stop being who you are.... And you start tailoring yourself to everybody else so that they'll like you.

JAMIE GANGEL: You don't worry what people think about you?

RUSH: Oh, I'd be insane if I did.

JAMIE GANGEL: Mmm.

RUSH: I don't even give people the power to offend me.

JAMIE GANGEL: Oh.

RUSH: You cannot offend me.

That's not advice I need now, but it's advice that would have helped me tremendously if I had heard it and taken it to heart when I was younger. Do you worry about what people think and try to tailor yourself into the person you imagine they will like?