To All you Brave Friends - with Awe and Applause

The current of authenticity holds you together when you are visible to the public or sitting quietly in a library. Regardless of what work you do, how you run your household, which company you head, this is the wire that leads your spirit.

You are honest, authentic, moral and supportive. We need you, your example, your courage, your strength and determination. 

There are no doubt days when you are weary, when your efforts feel fruitless, please don’t stop, continue to be YOU. You are raising the standards for all of us who care enough to grow. We notice you and we give thanks for your leadership.

Parked cars and dogs

Someone approached me the other day about a work situation that they are experiencing. She talked about how in spite of her generally open, trusting attitude, she was feeling cornered by her colleagues.

When a genuine person starts to feel that things are amiss, that she is being kept out of the loop by those skilled in deception, it is not a pleasant working environment. I mentioned to her a Bahamian quote that I had just read that fit in perfectly. The Bahamians I have met in my lifetime are pretty cool people, not one of them takes life too seriously, they are the epitome of “don’t sweat the small stuff”.

Being ostracized for no apparent reason, can be confusing and throw the most honest person off track. We are reminded of our own ego, and how trying it can be to keep it in check. Our reaction to this affront will always dictate our future encounters with these people, so our reaction should be cautious and with some forethought . I don’t know if it helped, but my friend nodded in understanding (a wise woman she is!) when I spoke the words of the Bahamian quote.

“Dogs don’t chase parked cars.”

Be firm in what you stand for, because your strong hold on authenticity and integrity will always be threatening to those who are not. Their behaviour is motivated by the insecurity and fear that they are not whom they are projecting each day. And maybe they realize that you alone see through their façade.

How many things can we hide?

This could be happening down the street from where you live. It happened to me.

This is my version of a true story with almost all accurate details. My friend met someone years ago who was a younger sister of a close friend. The sisters grew up with the bare necessities, but they dreamed big. The younger sister, whom this story is about, envisioned a life of some affluence, cloth napkins, and an abundance that happened naturally that was surely coming her way.

She did her part, got an education and married a man. They had a typical life and they divorced. She raised two young daughters while she was still young herself. She did what she needed to and it worked. Time went on and she coloured up her dream to another level; she added a rich, nice new husband that adored her and her two daughters. And lo and behold the dream became true. (How this part occurred is a little hazy in my friend’s memory.)

Who is real?

 Husband number 2, owned real estate, spoiled his young wife and daughters, bought and owned companies and they lived a happy life. He ordered one of those monster billboards that you see on the side of the road, announcing the birth of their newest daughter. Everyone going by the sign at rush hour, oohed and aahed. What a guy he must be for such a lavish display!

Authenticity - Parker J. Palmer

Our deepest calling is to grow into our own authentic self-hood, whether or not it conforms to some image of who we ought to be. As we do so, we will not only find the joy that every human being seeks -- we will also find our path of authentic service in the world.

Parker J. Palmer

Find yourself, find your Bliss!