A Love Letter to Authenticity: Embracing Our True Selves and Connections
Woke up and wrote this love letter to my friends and thought to share it here, too:
Who are you when you remove the mask? The clothes? The things? What remains when all you have is body and soul? Seriously, sit with this. I mean this with love & heart.
What are you doing behind this screen? What’s your purpose? What’s driving you? What makes your soul squirm? What & who are you showing up for? Are you part of that equation? Are you happy?
No matter our relationship, I will always hold you accountable for being who you are. I want nothing less than your authentic self. I don’t care about what you think I want, or who you think you should/are expected to be in my presence.
I just want you.
I want connection and depth. Sometimes that means embarrassment. Sometimes that means taking a risk or admitting you’re wrong. Sometimes that means disagreement, but fuck it. That’s how we all grow, right? Deep, honest, authentic communication filled with perspective, adventure, laughter, memories, & hope.
Why is this rare? Why is it so hard to demand that we stand in our truth? Be who we are? Ultimately, what (or who) are we afraid of?
I find myself saying this more & more—but if you are in my life, you matter to me. I love you in the most simple and complex of ways, and I’m never afraid to say it. I don’t have everything figured out, but I know that you’re meant to be here. To teach me, to learn from and grow with one another, to share, to vibe, to laugh, to LOVE in whatever capacity.
Fuck expectations & what everyone else thinks. Be weird. Show up for yourself even if it’s embarrassing. Don’t be afraid to stand up for what you believe in. Break the norm & offer fresh perspective. Stand alone. Tell someone they inspire you, how they’ve changed or shaped you. Tell someone you love them.
These moments are indescribable, irreplaceable, & can often be intimidating if we’re not accustomed to this level of depth. We spend so much time behind screens, especially as of late, & all I can think about is the paradox of human connection.
There is too much to risk in staying silent in who we are and what we want out of this life.