The Real Me!

I have a wooden plague sitting on my bookshelf as a daily reminder to myself. It reads: “My goal in life is to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am.” Well, in my case it’s “dogs” since I own two wonderful Shih Tzu companions named Beau and CJ. Anyone who knows anything at all about this particular breed of dog knows that they have this unique way of looking adoringly at their master. Mine do all the time. Those looks of adoration melt my heart.

Yes I suppose they think I am a pretty nice person. In their canine imagination I can do no wrong, even when I get upset with them for having an indoor accident. Even when I’m not in a good mood and would prefer to be alone my two little buddies overlook my moodiness and just want to sit in my lap or asleep at my feet. They are indeed loyal friends, none better.

If they only knew however! If they only knew that I just might not be that person they think I am. No one knows this better than I do. But I try nonetheless to live up to their expectations of me. It’s hard; it really is difficult to be authentic; to step outside of one’s persona and allow the world to see the real me; to take off that mask we all wear that conceals who we really are or reveals the person we want hidden.

It’s really hard to be the person in private that we pretend to be in public. This is why I keep reminding myself to look at that small wooden plague on my bookshelf: Be the person in private that you are in public. If I can manage to be somewhat successful in this endeavor I am sure Beau and CJ would be proud of me. I know I would feel a whole lot better about myself were I able to harmonize my public and private lives into own authentic person.

Authenticity is recognizable. Generally most people know when someone is faking it in public. More importantly, I know when I’m faking it. This is why I try really hard to be the person my dogs think that I am. It’s the best litmus test for authenticity that I have found. Try it!