"I thought your name was Jonathan… hmm".
"Maybe you're just posting something written by someone called Amanda. So who's she?"
"He got himself a girlfriend called Amanda? Or not"
Wait… "could it be?" but you don't want to go there. "is this how you're announcing yourself to the world?" I mean it's 2016, it wouldn't be the craziest thing. "Surely not"
...Now I have to read on to really find out who or what is this Amanda is.

Did you find yourself in a line of thought similar to that? Maybe you didn't. I might have because of my hyperactive brain. I've learned that some of the things I do, most normal people don't.  You could be one of those more patient readers than myself, who don't try to guess what the article is about before starting to read.

Well, "I am Amanda". There it is again.

For the record, I am not changing my name, or anything else to do with my identity for that matter. Rather, I'm only reaffirming a truth that lately I haven't found easy to believe.

I'm a big football fan. My favorite team is Liverpool FC. We the Reds hate Raheem Sterling. We can't miss any opportunity to laugh at him, boo him, ridicule him. He was our man, till he decided he wanted more money and demanded to leave the club. Earlier this year we had a period when we 'had him'. His form dipped for both club and country, and being the sadists we are, we enjoyed it.

At the Euro 2016, that was like his rock bottom. He was so terrible, it was reported that they he was seeing a psychologist to help regain his mojo. His confidence was low, and his body language on the pitch showed it. I'm sure all the ugly tweets and memes we made didn't make it easier for him off the pitch.

Have people ever said things not nice about you and you believed them? You lose confidence in yourself, in your abilities and start to think you aren't as good as you thought. If I were to guess, that's what was happening to Sterling. It got to his head that he wasn't good enough.

You're still wondering, "who is Amanda and what has she got to do with all this?" One thing for sure, she has nothing to do with Sterling.

Earlier this year, I sat a few job interviews which, as I still have no job, didn't go well for me. When you go through such an experience, although not said out aloud, the message you seem to keep hearing is "you're not good enough".

I like names. I like to know meanings of names. Sometimes I ask people what their name means and they think I'm weird. Mine for example, Jonathan which is from Hebrew means "God has given". Do you ever sit there and think about names for your unborn babies, whose mother/father you even might not have met yet? This, I'm told normal people do it too. I wonder what you consider in choosing those names.

I have a couple of names I like, and Amanda is one of them. I liked the sound of it even before I found out the meaning. Amanda is of Latin origin, and it means "worthy of love". Here she is, or is not. I am Amanda - worthy of love.

So many people have at some point, whether in their childhood or even as adults, felt they weren't worthy of love. It could be because of abuse. It could be because you felt your parents favored your other siblings. Or perhaps, your parents were not there and you feel it's because you didn't deserve their love. Maybe you're an adult but there's a trend in your relationships; they all leave. It could be anything, so many reasons why this feeling might arise.

If you feel that way, there's some good news for you. That you're not worthy of love, that's not true. It might be rooted deep, and maybe at some level defines who you have become. Still, it's false. It's not easy to get rid of, but it needs to go. In case you care to know Sterling did rediscover his form (and we're not liking it).

The questions: Am I tall enough? Aren't I too fat? I don't think I'm smart enough, am I? Will he like my hair? The suggestions: It's my skin color. It's how I speak. It's my nose. I'm just not pretty enough. If I'd come from a better family... blah blah blah

I'd like to tell you that "you're this enough" and "not too that". But you know what, that doesn't matter. I want you to know this: you don't have to be perfect to be worthy of love. Your worthiness of love has nothing to do with your flaws or lack thereof. Your worthiness of love has nothing to do with what other people think or say.

God made you fearfully and wonderfully, and that alone makes you worthy of love. Not how much you earn or weigh. Not what you have done or what you will become.

"I am Amanda". I look in the mirror and remind myself. Even though I'm several waist sizes from where I once was or want to be, I'm still Amanda. Reaffirm it too, you are Amanda.

Lastly, for the singles out there searching for love, don't settle for someone who won't love you right. With respect, dignity, integrity… If they come your way, tell them "I'm Amanda, I won't settle for less". Let them go, because you are indeed worthy of love.

I leave you with a JJ Heller song that I like. My prayer is that God will teach us "What love really means"! 

JJ Heller - What Love Really Means - Love Me (Official Music Video)