I'd like to believe that one always has a choice on what one would consider as 'things that matter.' Those that do not, or that one chooses not to, should be buried and forgotten. Sometimes though, things have an uncanny habit of raising themselves up to the front, and one can't help but think about them, no matter how unwanted these thoughts are. One tries to put them to sleep but they render one awake instead.

Some things. They've transcended mere cognition and affect and have transformed themselves into 'matters of the heart.'

Cut to the chase...

Lesson Learned: If you can't handle rejection, don't seek for approval.

If your work must have its merits, decide earlier on that by your own measure, you are going to do the job well and good. If you're happy with the outcome and it sits well with your consistencies, then the job has measured up. It has all the merits it needs to have. Nobody else has to have an opinion of what you do unless you develop a need for it yourself.

If by good fortune anybody voluntarily forms one, however, you can very easily take it either (cbs, pahiram ha) 'with a grain of salt or a pound of sugar.'

That way perhaps, no matter should matter as much.