The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are. – Joseph Campbell
Most people – probably even you – would agree with a truth that they are unrepeatable. Nobody on this earth – alive, dead, not born yet – is exactly like them, has been or will be again.
They would nod enthusiastically at another truth that they are indeed unique, one of a kind, 100% unrivalled by any other human being.
What an honour!
A privilege.
To be alive and never take it for granted that no other being can do you better than you can.
Crazy!
It can’t be right, surely?
If that really were truth then there is no reason that you could possibly come up with for you to not be who you are. No excuse would cut it.
So why then do we misuse our right to be a true version of who we are?
Why do we hesitate when we intuitively know that no other will ever come this way again who is going to pick up all the stuff we didn’t do, say or be?
Oh, wait a minute there moxie.
Out of everyone reading this, I’m blameless too!
I didn’t set out to squander away my right to be me.
I didn’t actually plan on stepping back or allow fear, guilt, shame and regret – insert other nonsense – to keep me asleep. I didn’t intend to feel just not good enough, or compare, to sit down when it was my turn to stand up, or be what others expected, threatened, or told me to be.
I could have said at the time, ‘No, wait, I’m irreplaceable you know, I don’t want to do it this way, this is my way. See?’. But I didn’t. I didn’t want to risk it.
My truth is, I hadn’t a bloody clue what being who you really are meant. Not really.
I knew it felt good when I read it. Be. Who. You. Truly. Are. Maybe because being who you truly aren’t feels so fecking awful, tiring, grief-like or the that others had a secret that I wanted in on.
Each and every one us – you and I included – are free and have a lifetime open come-as-you-are invitation to go within, look, and enter a place that knows only peace, joy, happiness and joy.
But most of us don’t accept the invitation. Return to sender. Not known at this address. We turn away. But the invitation doesn’t disappear. It will sit unopened until you’re ready to RSVP.
(Aside: in my experience we do all say yes to the invitation eventually, it’s just a matter of time).
Each time I become aware that I am taking my life for granted: the days I am bored, restless, comparing, fearing, worrying, feeling badly about myself, I choose to remind myself – after I’m done with the whiplashes – that being who I truly am is love, compassion, understanding, forgiveness, safe, home, and simply … and okay.
I have no idea what your being who you are looks like for you, but don’t misuse your right to be what that is.
Now doesn’t come around again. Truth.
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