I was extremely grateful for my hard outer shell. I would just disappear into my shell. That's what shells are for. I wanted to make steady progress, but at my own speed. If others weren't satisfied with the rate of my progress, I didn't need to make their reality my reality.
Progress is relative.
If others would see things from my perspective, they wouldn't be so judgmental. After my initial surprise, I didn't feel bad about being a turtle. On Judgment Day, I won't be asked why I wasn't tall as a giraffe. I won't be asked why I didn't fly as fast as an eagle. We turtles weren't meant to do that.