Is it possible to just be me?
Certainly! The idea of “just being yourself” can be both liberating and confusing.
In carrying a conversation with one man he said, “I like that I can be just me here”. In unpacking that with him I discovered that he finds that he can come into this safe space, sit and drink a coffee, chat to someone if he wished to or sit quietly reading at the table by himself.
He went on to say that I am encouraged here at Cafe Connection to “just be myself,” without pretense or conforming to societal expectations. I can be honest about my feelings, thoughts, and values, even if they don’t align with what others expect. I can simply be me. He said, “I am treating with dignity and religion is not pushed at me at all”. “Yet if I want to talk about it you will engage with me at my request”.
I have mulled that conversation in my mind over and over.
Have I been guilty of trying to be somebody else, somebody better, that I lose myself in the process. So many times I have throughout seasons of my life I have dawned metaphorical masks to fit in or protect myself. Can anyone else relate to that mask wearing?
I know, from experience, that these masks can be exhausting and prevent me from fully expressing who I am and stripping me of energy, health and wellness. So I have decided that “being yourself” means that I should shred those masks and allow my true self to shine through, simply being transparent, honest and real.
This journey of self discovery only ends with my last breath. It involves exploring and embracing my unique personality. It is being authentic in a world that has become increasingly difficult to navigate. And as the seasons of life change around me, I learn to adapt and grow from my new experiences which leads to deepening connections and a more fulfilling life.
Think about the masks that you are wearing right now?
I am throwing my masks away.
What will you do with yours?
