Who is your authentic self?
Are you living true to your authentic self?
We are multitudes.
This poses the question: Are you living your authentic life?
Thinking about this, panic begins to creep in. Who is authentic Natalie?
Behind the people pleasing, behind the trauma, behind capitalistic expectations, beyond the religious guilt and shame, beyond the patriarchal ideals – who authentically am I?
I am not one thing – authentic me is ever-changing, always evolving.
I am mountains and sunrises. A hot cup of coffee, books, and cozy sweaters. I am fresh flowers, sunlight, rain water, dirt, and soil.
I am what I love. I am my experiences.
Authentic Natalie is laughter, dancing, slow mornings, long hikes, mountain scapes, sunshine, gloom, cat snuggles, coffee shops, oat milk lattes, wildflowers, hugs, and oceans.
I am multitudes in one existing body.
I will not be ashamed of these things I love, in turn I am not ashamed of who I am. I find comfort in knowing that I am not one thing – and that I will always be changing.
I hope I never stop seeing the beauty in the way sunlight hits brick buildings, the insides of a lemon, the veins on leaves, the reflection of water, the buzzing of bees, and whiskers on kittens.
I want to feel the richness of life as much as possible. Seeing that life finds a way, and will grow anywhere; even in the cracks of brick, gives me hope. Hope that change is possible, good, and life will always allow me to flourish.
Don’t limit yourself.
You are good. You are whole. You are lovely. You are growing. You are authentic.
Like a Mother of Thousands, you are resilient.
See?
You are not one thing.
