Perfectly Imperfect
I remember reading Brene Brown’s book “Daring Greatly”, it was early 2013 and I felt like she was speaking to me right where I was at on my path. I was about a year into recovery and for the first time, IN MY LIFE (already in my 30s), I was figuring out who I was, looking at my past, appreciating my lessons, shedding my shame (#ShameShedding), and stepping into my light and my truths about who I AM.
Wholeheartedly.
Unapologetically
I had decided, shortly before I started her book, that I was just going to find a way to just be ME in life and not hide any part of me and stop beating myself up. Many on the outside loved me, but I needed to love me and I didn’t. I knew that it would take courage but also prove to give me deep and more meaningful connections with people and the world around me and provide space for others to do the same. I also knew it would be a lot less work then my “IM FINE” lifestyle that I had been living.
I also decided that I was going to LAUGH my ass off at myself, my insane judgements and at this crazy world and that I would seek humor and light instead of fear, darkness and cynicism that can surround us .
One thing that made this change easy to execute was my sweet Michael . He made it safe for me to find and be me… and not only safe but showed me that I would still be accepted and loved, not by everyone, but by enough. I started to figure out who I was, what I liked, what I feared, what my authentic voice sounds like and what was the worlds voice and ideas that I had taken on. I embraced my flaws and my past and decided to use it to help heal and love on others who also felt lost, broken, disconnected, and dysfunctional. It was freeing on so many levels.
Last Friday, I experienced the most perfect example of an authentic relationship and humor. My dear friend stopped by to talk and help me with laundry and life. She has been a huge part of our post Michael love story and showed up again to help. We were talking about her current work she is doing which is demanding her to be widely vulnerable and we started talking about body image and girls. She comes from a North Shore family (which means you’re “supposed to” be fancy for those of you that don’t live here), lives near the lake, has a thriving career and I’m sure at times feels like she needs to “I’m fine” those around her.
In our candid conversation, she said “Well, the good thing is my Mom never shamed me about my body, never even mentioned weight…well one time she said I was too skinny but I was just doing a bunch of cocaine, so I was too skinny, but not because of food” waving her hand and then she finished talking.
(Oh HAHAHA LOL)
Now thats authentic connection and communication knowing she is just going to be loved, not judged
My heart felt light and I started to laugh out loud in gratitude, she is 100% her and I am 100% me.
I said “How many other people on the North shore are having this candid of a conversation without skipping a beat?”
I think that when we embrace where we have been, who we are and what we have learned on our journey and we can love ourselves, it enables us to love others exactly where they are on there journey.
I dare you to dare greatly… be authentic in where you are and who you are, right now. In this holy instant and allow yourself to be loved right where you are... ️
I also encourage you to love others right where they are at, see their light and remind them of who they are.
XO
#TruthSetsUsFree #GratefulHeart #IAm #ShameShedding #SecretsBreedShame #MissingMichael #WidowsWords #Peace #Love #One #CrackMeUp #PerfectlyImperfect