Wow, what a beautiful and inspiring story. It's a reminder to live our lives to the fullest and not let fear hold us back. The woman you met in college is an excellent role model for living an authentic and unjudging life. I'm glad that her words were able to help you overcome your fear of being judged.

I also agree with your point about the difference between the opinions of randomers and the people you care about most. The people who genuinely love and support us are the ones whose opinions matter most. They are the ones who will give us honest feedback and help us grow rather than judge us harshly.

Thank you for sharing this story. It's a valuable reminder that we should all strive to live authentically and without fear.