If you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen. It’s a simple saying, but one with a lot of truth.

Some people can stay under the radar most of their lives. They can live a simple life, keep their mouths shut, never post anything on Facebook, keep their tweets to a minimum or maybe even live without the Internet entirely.

Others do a great job of riding the fence. Much like the middle child, they are happiest when everyone is cooperative, they don’t ruffle any feathers and when they get mad, they just walk away.

And then there are those who are in the public eye by the very nature of their job. Marketing their work, the use of social media is a necessity for these folks, not a fun, social option. The famous artist Bonnie Mohr of Minnesota comes to mind, here.

She paints beautiful portraits of farm animals for a living. The passion inside of Bonnie is put on canvas for everyone to see and enjoy, and she has a market for her work. She’s on Facebook, has a blog, tweets and even has a social media person in charge of promotion.

But even with all the publicity and marketing done by others, when it comes right down to it, it’s still her work. Each painting is a part of Bonnie, an extension of her being.

Bonnie was commissioned by the Holstein Assoc. USA to paint the new true type model of the Holstein cow and bull, and those paintings were recently revealed at the National Holstein Convention held in Springfield, Mo. In visiting with Bonnie, she stated although a committee was in charge of the changes that make up this new true type model, she is basically on the front lines taking the hits.

And this makes sense – though Bonnie didn’t whip up the true type with her own preferences in mind, she is the first person in line to take the criticism from those who may not like the new models.

It was only a matter of hours after the reveal before the arrows sailed and the critics began their barrage of what they liked and didn’t like about the paintings. Everyone has an opinion, and we are allowed to express it as a marvelous liberty in this country.

But what I marvel at most is the way some people receive the opinions of others. Some people are levelheaded in their reaction, like Bonnie Mohr. She knew people would either love or hate or just be lukewarm about her paintings. Nonetheless, she has not winced once in public about anyone’s comments of her work.

Yet, others who have been in the public eye aren’t quite so gracious and should take a few lessons on how to receive criticism. Some folks even like to promote themselves and their work in social media and then, at the least bit of criticism, they want to take their toys and go home or pretend they can be invisible again.

Whether people like you or hate you, like your work or hate your work, like what you produce or hate what you produce, the bottom line is, the public’s opinion does not define you, your work or your value. Like I said, if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

And, while you’re out cooling off, please realize you have value; not because of what you do, who you are or how much money you make  but because God created you. Period. End of story. And when you realize that, then will you become fireproof.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Melissa Hart may write to her in care of this publication.