Stay true to thine own self, a slight variation on Shakespeare. There have been a few points in my life when this needed to guide my way forward. The first home building company I worked had been a small family owned company, I was there seven years, in the last few months I was there the company was sold to an international conglomerate, lots of change took place, I was miserable. I looked around, found another job, I remember going into the bosses office to resign, when she asked why, the words "I have lost the faith" tumbled out. I didn't believe in the way the company was starting to do business. To be true to myself, I needed to move on.
Certainly admitting to the world that I am gay, attracted to men, was a huge step in being true to thine own self. I had hidden behind the closet door, making myself and sadly others miserable in the process. I remember saying to my first spouse, "you are not happy, I am not happy, and we both deserve happiness." Change is miserable, but sometimes essential to be true to yourself, to find your happiness.
There is a line in a Jimmy Buffet song, "he went to Paris, seeking answers to questions that bothered him so." Many of us, struggle to define the question. When you define what bothers you, change it. Do what is needed. Sometimes regime change starts at home.
It is a rough week. Take care of yourself. Don't let the world eat you alive. Be true to thine own self. Oh, and come November, VOTE like your life depended on it.
I know it's cliche, but as Ru Paul says all the time, " If you can't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love someone else?" It's true. And we have to be happy in our life. Being miserable and unhappy is not worth it.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Bobby Mcferrin had it right, Don't worry, be happy.
DeleteThe summers and winters scattered like splinters. Today’s ear worm.
ReplyDeleteAnd suddenly the years slipped away
DeleteI am quite horrified at what has happened in your country, and it couldn't happen here, but I say that with no confidence. Keep the faith and encourage people to vote for common decency.
ReplyDeleteJustifiably horrified.
Delete"Be not another if thou canst be thyself."
ReplyDeleteWell said.
DeleteBe happy, but mad enough to speak up and vote!
ReplyDeleteYuup!
DeleteI like Bob's reply. We all need to be mad enough to vote and happy enough to survive these times.
ReplyDeleteNever miss an election, they all count.
DeleteIt's been a rough start to 2026. Still recovering from the awful flu, tired, sad, weary of the troubles that keep piling up for our country. Voting will help but I wish he could be stopped before then - too much time to do too much more damage.
ReplyDeleteHe is old, and in declining health.
DeleteWisdom from the Disney movie "Encanto," written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, that I have watched numerous times with my little grandson:
ReplyDelete‘What could I do if I just knew it didn’t need to be perfect? It just needed to be?’ Because it’s so true. It’s OK to just be you — no perfection needed.”
When I was getting ready to start law school in my late 30's, I fussed that I would be 40 by the time I finished. Sweet Bear simply said, "do you want to be 40 with it, or without it?" The answer was with it. Jump and the net will appear.
DeleteI never did dance to anybody else's tune and I am proud of that. I made up my own tune as I jogged along and the song continues.
ReplyDeleteKeep the fuzzy side up.
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