The Gift of Being “Real”
There are so many ways to be grateful. I’ve been writing about gratitude for almost 30 days now, but more importantly, gratitude has been ‘righting’ me this past month. This comes as a major surprise to me, since I’m naturally a very thankful person. But somehow, my heart had lost its connection to gratefulness, and as a result I’ve not been in full glow. What I’ve discovered through this wonderful ritual of sharing thanks is that I am truly-deeply-enormously thankful to be ‘me.’
One of my new friends, Failla, wrote on her Facebook page: “If I could be anyone in the world right now, I would be me.” What a totally wonderful thing to know! Failla is fabulous at being herself, and because of this natural authenticity, people follow her like the pied piper (or the pied drummer :-). She makes my heart happy, not because she is mostly bubbling over with happiness herself, but because my heart sings whenever I see someone BEING completely who they are meant to be.
So let me be honest: authenticity hasn’t always come easy for me. I’ve spent a lot of years trying to fit in, and I know most of you have too. I’ve secretly envied people who are so pure & natural with their way of being in the world. It might seem easy for some to find their true style, but for most of us it takes years to discover who we really are, which is often not what we were taught by our teachers and parents.
What’s complicated the art of authenticity for me is that I have so many different natural styles! I’m playful & deeply serious, practical & poetic, organized & well…even more organized! :-) I’m very joyful with deep currents of sadness for the world, an introvert who thrives on connection, a dreamer who thrives on doing. I could go on, but the point is that it’s taken me over 50 years to embrace the diversity within my own style that is exactly what makes me so radiant. When I am simply being this diversity, I shine like a rainbow, reflecting the Light of everyone I meet. What a relief to allow myself to play with ALL the colors rather than choosing just one!
And now I must admit I’m uncomfortable writing about simply ‘being’ when our world has people without homes, starving children, and crumbling financial structures that are changing just about everyone’s sense of security. I’m also wondering why this topic came to heart this month, during the hectic holiday season when so many of us are so caught up in the doing that we forget to simply be. Oh. I guess that’s why.
Being, and being authentic, are two important gifts to remember at any time of year. I’m quite sure they are the best gifts we can give one another. So, if you’re wondering what to give that special someone, take a moment to just BE together, then unwrap your heart and let yourself be real. And, like the little drummer boy’s (or girl’s) music, it will be the most precious gift anyone could ever receive.
Shining a rainbow of gratitude your way, Sor’a