I have spent maybe two thirds of life trying to be somebody that I am not. You may believe this or not, but, one day I was taking a walk around the greenbelt near our home. There was nobody around and I was just having some silent time to my own. Then this loud voice came out and spoke. “Tom stop trying to be somebody else, just be yourself! Your purpose in life is to be yourself!” After that event I have decided to just be myself. Since that time, I been at peace since and am actually enjoying just being myself. I even like myself. This is one positive change I have made in my life.

Unfortunately, this event did not happen until I was in my sixties, a time when I thought I had already formed my identity. Therefore, I spent many years of my life trying to be somebody that I wasn’t meant to be, conforming to the expectations set by society, family, and even my peers. I often wore a mask that concealed my true self, believing that by doing so, I would find acceptance and success. As the years passed, I felt increasingly like a stranger in my own life, longing for the freedom to embrace who I really was, and reflecting on the choices I made, I realized that the journey to authenticity was one I had delayed far too long.

The question is more than a simple inquiry; it gets to the heart of your identity. Are you being yourself and accepting your unique traits, or are you trying to fit in and be someone else for the sake of acceptance or validation? I discovered that I am now very happy just being myself.

Daily writing prompt

Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often?

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