Self-compassion vs. self-esteem (and me in therapy)

I went to a wedding this past weekend in North Carolina. It was a great, majestic, soaring wedding -- in a way, aren't they all? -- and by and large, I had a very good time. It was with probably my central crew of friends at this stage in my life (although I don't live geographically near any of them at present), although the actual bride (my connection…