The Price of Authenticity
by Tera Warner
I’ve learned a few things in life. Some the hard way. One that came at a cost of a lot of books, a lot of hours and a lot of tears spilled was the lesson of learning how to be “myself” no matter what doing so would cost me.
There are amongst us a certain number of firecrackers who do not conform to the Photoshop-cropped version of what Life looks like.
Not with our thighs, our size or the way we think about the world.
There are a certain number of firecrackers out there who choose not to watch the evening news because we would rather would daydream about the possibility of what a better world would look like and get busy creating it.
Looks Like I’ve Got a Firecracker On My Hands
At a month before her 13th birthday my firecracker daughter came to me and announced that she wanted to go off to study life, communication, relationships and to do something to make the world a better place.
She decided that the world of updating her Facebook status and talking about the latest tune on the Top 40 didn’t bring her the amount of happiness, friendship and personal fulfillment she was looking for.
She decided that the best place for her to do find the friends and environment and awareness about life she really wanted, would be by moving to live in Ontario to study with other friends.
A good 6 hours away from me or anyone in her family.
*gulp*
Her dad and I weighed the pros and cons. We asked a gazillion questions, talked to all the people we would need to talk to to make sure it all felt right and then decided that we would let her go.
To pursue HER dreams and HER goals and make HER life what she wants it to be. (Regardless of how it looked to other people or how uncomfortable it felt given what “other 12/13 year olds” are supposed to be doing and interested in).
A Small Price to Pay for Authenticity
I would be lying if I said it didn’t hurt. I thought I had another 5 years of cuddles, giggles and staying up late talking about boys. I thought I’d be there for her first period and first kiss.
But something happened when she made that decision.
A Mika who had conviction and clarity about WHO she is and how she wants to live stepped up to the plate and requested the freedom to do something that most certainly doesn’t fit into the generally accepted standards of life at just-about-13 years old.
And we granted her the opportunity to do it.
Live Life On Your Own Terms
I suppose every parent conjures up ideas about the time their kids will grow up and spread their wings to face Life on their own terms. While neither her Dad nor I imagined it happening quite like this or quite so soon, we really do feel she’s on the path to living her life with personal integrity and commitment to the things that are important to her.
And at the end of the day, I don’t know what more I could possibly expect or hope for her.
Whether you want to eat differently, dress differently, think differently or live differently than the rest of the world, your desire to do so, and your courage to live it will directly influence your personal sense of happiness and fulfillment in life.
Go light off a firecracker. Kick up dust.
Boldly, bravely, beautifully break the rules of how you’re “supposed” to live or talk or eat or walk and dare to be the most breath-taking example of YOU the world has ever seen.
Love and authenticity,
Tera
p.s.
Anyone coming on board our brand new Remineralize Your Body program is going to have to practice the art of personal integrity and walking your own path BIG TIME. In order to help restore lost minerals from diet, a polluted lifestyle, and other dietary factors that can cause depletion, we’ve put together an amazing program to really help rebalance the minerals in your body and and restore your health. But it’s not for the faint-hearted. Firecrackers only need apply.
p.p.s.
Hi Mika. I know you’re reading this. I LOVE YOU!!!! You’re BEAUTIFUL!!!! Thank you for making me the luckiest mom in the whole, wide universe!! I so believe in you and in all you will do!