Authentic

It is possible that every once in a while, we could hear what someone said about us and it would be rewarding to hear that someone thought us to be authentic.  It is such an ephemeral complement.  Authentic, aka, genuine, reliable, the real thing, believable – all attributes that describe us as we would like to see ourselves.  The interesting part of being authentic is that we need not try to be authentic – we either are, or we are not.  The nurses in the hospitals, working 12-hour days to take care of COVID-19 patients are authentic.  They are just doing their thing, day in and day out.  Volunteers at a Food Bank, serving food every day to people in need, they are authentic.  There are some whom we know who are not authentic, they are trying to be something else, a phony of sorts.  We know them when we see them, and it is a shame that they do not realize that being authentic is not all that hard.  So, let’s see if we can, each of us, be who we are and maybe sometimes even better versions of who we are.  When this happens, we will be told we are authentic, and it will feel good.  Here’s to all of the authentic people we know and those soon to be – the world is better for having you.

Joe