These words were spoken to me as I stood in line this morning to gain entry to my children’s school by a professionally dressed mom (PDM). The conversation all came to be because the front desk worker complained of people pushing the intercom button multiple times when the sign clearly stated to push it once to gain entry. I quietly said “Uh…I am sorry, my bad” PDM said “Just blame me”. That caught my ear…so I said “Just blame you, why?” PDM responded “People want to blame someone, so I let them…and no one seems to complain.” I replied… “Not me…I’ll own my own, but thanks any way”. Then we parted ways.

Oscar Wilde brilliantly once said or wrote “Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.”

From time to time I find myself “trying” to be some way I think I am supposed to be. Whether it is as a father, a friend, a son, a lover, a worker, or any other “title” I have for myself in life, I have struggled at times in my life and still do figuring out the best way to be. As I go through life I often wonder if I am the only one??  Many of us are walking around in life trying to be who we think we should be or how others want us to be, instead of just being who we really are.

There is a great quote that I read on a sign sometime ago it reads:  “Friendship is knowing everything about someone and liking them anyway.”  Scary thing is…do we really practice this or is it just a great idea?

I think sometimes we are afraid of our inner self or we are worried that if we were truly ourselves, people would not like us. Weird thing is that most of us relate better with people who are more themselves than anything else. Realness is attractive and it is also internal…you can feel it. While it may be scary for many of us to be real, is ultimately a lot easier. We don’t have to spend so much time pretending to be someone we aren’t. Facades are hard to keep up and the wind blows real hard sometimes.

I know that I have a few unique gifts, talents, and contributions to share with others. However, when we put all of our energy and attention on fitting in, being liked, and not messing up, we take away a lot of our natural God given, creativity, and joy.

So maybe she was being herself in taking blame or trying to make others happy. I could easily relate as I like to make others happy too.  Matter of fact I have done it… I often assume blame to end an argument where people won’t assume responsibility. To keep peace… it is my nature. I can’t see conforming just because people expect it though…I’d like to think I could resist or have a friend who’d call me to the table on it. Whatever the case may be I’d hope that if I started to shift off course someone would notice and care enough to remind me that conforming just isn’t cool.

Amazing thing is…that when we appreciate and celebrate who we are, we aren’t trying to impress others…only ourselves.  Food for thought? I surely hope so…