Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Authentic Scar


What is Authenticity of the soul and heart?

What makes us tick and be who we are deep in the surface in our core?

Authentic self refers to our genuine person; who we really are at the very core of our being.
I have been swimming in thoughts lately about what it means to be authentic and not ashamed of who you are and know that it is good enough for the people that you associate with all around

Like most people I have a fear of rejection but found as an adult this manifested itself in a fear of having no friends and so I tried to hold onto every person that I could.

I tried hard to fit into many different crowds and many different "types" and tell the right jokes, have the right look. It is sad I look back and I see all that I really did was open myself up to be molded into what others wanted me to be.

There is a song by Missy Higgins called "Scar":

"So the next one came with a bag of treats,
She smelled like sugar and spoke like the sea
She told me don't, trust them trust me.
Then she pulled at my stitches one by one,
Looked at my insides clicking her tongue,

And said "This will all have to come undone".

A triangle trying to squeeze through a circle,
She tried to blunt me so I'd fit."

That is how I felt. I was being blunted. Sometimes down to the music I listened to or the clothes I wore. In some cases even the color or style of my hair.

Well just as life has grown and my hair is less than it was as is my feeling of losing friends I am starting to see that the true ones let me be me. I am thankful for that. The people who truly know me know that I will dance to Gaga, yet rock out to Def Leppard, followed by a little Tiffany to bring my pop self back in order.

The true people in my life know that in order to be authentic I am sometimes like a 10 year old child who laughs at stupid jokes and loves to giggle for no reason when hanging out.

I think that is what I am beginning to treasure more than anything. Authenticity. I know now that I am just me and that if anyone expects me to be more than I can’t accommodate them.

I am thankful that I have more people in my life like that and I feel as I am starting to let more people go who don't get that part of me. The truth is I may not seem like a serious person but I really do take a lot of things serious.

I don't mind anymore to have these mental scars as long as I get to be myself and stay true to my heart and my vision. I am starting to love who my uniqueness and my true authenticity. It is really what makes me.

"I think I realized just in time,
about my old self was hard to find.
You can bathe me in your finest wine but I'll never give you mine.
'Cos I'm a little bit tired of fearing that
I'll be the bad fruit nobody buys,
Tell me, did you think we'd all dream the same?

And doesn't that sound familiar?
Doesn't that hit too close to home?
Doesn't that make you shiver;
the way things could have gone?
And doesn't it feel peculiar
that everyone wants a little more?
so that I do remember to never go that far,
Could you leave me with a scar?"

Friday, March 18, 2011

2011 Song Year Pick

Nine years ago I started a new tradition of picking a "SONG OF THE YEAR" for my birthday. The song is a vision of where i have been and a glimpse into where i am heading ... the past years have been :

*Precious Illusions - Alanis Morissette (2002)
*Good Enough - Darren Hayes (2003)
*Kinda Hard - Eric Himan (2004)
*Farewell to The Old Me - Dar Williams (2005)
*Whole- Casey Stratton (2006)
*Phoenix Rising - Dan Paul (2007)
*Lessons Learned - Carrie Underwood(2008)
*32 Flavors - Ani DiFranco (2009)
*Coming Around - Christopher Dallman (2010)


As I look over the list I see songs that have truly moved me and touched my life and I can listen and smile knowning where I was. This year I am choosing another song that has really hit me hard and I am so excited by. This song is a true example of where I am at creatively, emotionally and collectively in my life right now.

I am toasting to another amazing year!!!

*Let The Rain - Sara Barielles (2011)

I wish I were pretty
I wish I were brave
If I owned this city
Then I'd make it behave

And if I were fearless
Then I'd speak my truth
And the world would hear this
That's what I wish I'd do, yeah

If my hands could hold them you'd see
I'd take all these secrets in me
And I'd move and mold them to be
Something I'd set free

I want to darken in the skies
Open the floodgates up
I want to change my mind
I want to be enough
I want the water in my eyes
I want to cry until the end of time

I want to let the rain come down
Make a brand new ground
Let the rain come down
Let the rain come down
Make a brand new ground
Let the rain come down tonight

I hold on to worry so tight
It's safe in here right next to my heart
Who now shouts at the top of her voice
Let me go, let me out, this is not my choice

And I always felt it before
That the world was filled with much more
Than the drowning soul I've learned to be
I just need the rain to remind me

I want to darken in the skies
Open the floodgates up
I want to change my mind
I want to be enough
I want the water in my eyes
I want to cry until the end of time

I want to let the rain come down
Make a brand new ground
Let the rain come down
Let the rain come down
Make a brand new ground
Let the rain come down

I want to let the rain come down
Make a brand new ground
Let the rain come down
Let the rain come down
Make a brand new ground
Let the rain come down tonight