When you use the word love does it sound hollow in your ears or are you so accustomed to the word that you don't think about it anymore? After all, we love chocolate, coffee, streetcars, walks on the beach and a million other things. We love almost as many people. Considering our great capacity to love shouldn't we be the happiest of people?
Authentic is another word that more and more people are applying to themselves. Do we understand what the word authentic is? People define themselves in various ways; by what they do, by what they have, by who they know, by where they live, by how they live, by what they like and the list continues on and on.
Does my identity come from being a Blazer fan, an Oregonian, an American, a husband, a father, a grandfather? Is this what authentic means?
Some have said to me, "What you see is what you get."
Others have said, "I'm the real McCoy."
Are they saying they consider themselves authentic; that what they do is unwaveringly consistent with what they say? Really?
Do you think most of us know who we are? I don't mean who we are when we are writing an article like this or who we are when we are at a Blazer game or who we are when we are with family and friends.
Who are we when we wake up at night and stare at the ceiling? Who are we when we are alone in the restroom? Who are we when we are not partying, arguing or pushing ahead of someone else? Who are we when we are not logged on or plugged in? Who are we when we are so sick we wonder if we are going to die?
Do you know the answer? If you don't, will you log off and unplug to find out? Does the answer matter to you? Can you be honest with yourself?
Have you seen how a cabinet maker dove tails pieces of wood? Do you think our intentions dove tail with authenticity? Which is greater; the blueprint or the house, the image in the mind of the artist or the finished work, the idea or the invention, the marriage vow or the marriage?
Authenticity is not what you think,
not what you say,
not what you'd do
if you had things your way.
Good intentions evaporate in the reality of authenticity. Authenticity transcends everything you wish you were and confronts you with who you are. Most of us are far from who we claim to be, and much too afraid and too comfortable to try and change.
Comments
Sounds very much like our political leaders, the current working environment in addition to the people wesee and interact with everyday. Wait a minute companies and their actions are decided by people.
Thats why I think ALWAYS is such a powerful word also. When you put this word in front, questions about yourself are harder to
answer. Brave, honest, loving..ALWAYS?
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