Monday, May 9, 2011

First Rate

"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else."
- Judy Garland

It seems to me more than ever, that there are an awful lot of second-rate versions walking around.
Why is that? Why do we all want to be somebody else, live someone else's life? Are we afraid of who we are, embarrassed or just not sure? Maybe it is just easier not to be ourselves.......or have we just thrown up our hands and given up?

Each of us is such a wonderful unique individual, full of talent and creative energy, and we sell ourselves short. Have you noticed I include myself in this tonight? I know that life is tough, and sometimes the ones we love the most are our harshest critics, we ourselves the harshest....... are we so tired, there is nothing left, or have we allowed others to take control of our lives.

I have spent the past three days doing yoga, breath work, and meditation......I have gone inward on many levels and at times it has been frightening and sad, yet highly enlightening. Hearing others talk at the yoga training, it appears most of us are in the same boat......we have our moments but to reach them is like climbing Everest and once there.......we're not sure where to go next.

Being ourselves , our first rate versions......well it may not always be the version
our friends and loved ones are comfortable with, it may be extremely uncomfortable for us.
In life, it is so easy to coast, and then we wake up one morning(because of age, health, circumstance,etc) and realize we can't coast any longer, that time is flowing like a stream to the ocean and it is now or never. We have to live our authentic lives, or settle for second rate versions, impostors if you will, shadows of who we were meant to be.

I had a friend once who told me her whole life she had worn drab colors because her mom had told her, bright colors didn't suit her......but one day, on an impulse, she bought a beautiful bright pink sweater. At first she was hesitant to wear it, but it was such a beautiful color, so compelling that she wore it one day......and all day people told her how great she looked. It took a while, but with time she brought color into her life on all levels. She was no longer a shadow.

I think it starts with small changes, baby steps......thinking about what we really want, allowing ourselves to see the possibilities, remembering our dreams and then giving ourselves permission to become who we were meant to be.

6 comments:

  1. In my experience what my Mom told me always echos in my head. Also, what my grandmother said. My grandmother told me I was smart and would have a special life. I'm glad your friend learned her beauty was colorful.

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  2. My mother told me when I was young that red was not a color I should ever wear. Like your friend, when I got older and on my own, I bought a red blouse and got compliments all day long. While my wardrobe is mostly black and navy (slimming for full figures) I love to get something that is bright and cheery. It makes you feel good when you wear it too!

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  3. I totally needed this post today - thanks for sharing it. It is so easy to get distracted and focus on what everyone else is doing and then trying to do that same thing. We fool ourselves into thinking "They must know something that I don't. I better follow along." Lately I've been really examining the things that I do and choose, and consciously asking myself, "Am I doing this because I have to or because I want to?" I am always surprised by the answer. Thanks again! - G

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  4. What a wonderful post. Sometimes in our youth, we're so intent on being the person other people expect us to be, we lose track of who we really are, or of who we truly want to be. One of the joys of getting older is the exhilarating liberation from trying to fit into someone else's mold. I yam what I yam, as Popeye said.

    I visited your blog on the recommendation of Odie, whose blog I also visited for the first time today. (so many blogs, so little time!)

    Take care.

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  5. Great post today and I agree with everything you said. Life is NOT a rehearsal, this is it, and we must try to be true to ourselves. It's not always easy when you have young children growing up and everything has to centre around them. To me, that really is one of the joys of getting older - being liberated and free! I won't pretent that I enjoy getting older, as one gets that awful feeling of time running out on us, but I have lost several friends and we really should make the most of every precious day that is given to us.

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  6. A first rate post, about first rate versions!

    Have a wonderful day!

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