Yesterday someone told me that sometimes my posts sound a bit preachy. I gave this feedback some serious thought. Am I preaching? In my eyes, that word implies a hierarchy; one who is holier trying to save the lesser, unholy people. As I believe we are all equals and that each of us is responsible for our own path and evolution, I have decided that I disagree. I’m not preaching. I’m most certainly strongly determined to speak my truth, passionate about a wide variety of subjects, and hoping to teach by example. Of course I understand that my forthrightness is a turn off for some (many?) people. Who wants to be reminded that each and every choice we make affects our future and that it is important to be constantly mindful of making choices that reflect our values? From what I’ve observed, not many. Yet, I have spent my entire life editing my words and actions to be liked and accepted by the masses, and that time is past. I am speaking to those who want to make the shift to awareness through action. There is plenty of material available for those who don’t.
My top three values at this point in my life are authenticity, self-care, and responsibility. It took me forty plus years, decades of soul searching, a lifetime of not belonging, and rivers of tears to reach this level of understanding. These are not values I was taught in school or saw modeled on TV. I figured it out myself with self-help tools, perseverance, and acute awareness. This is who I am, what I believe in, and the message I have to share. I make no apologies for that. If I can demonstrate to just one person that eating wisely and practicing yoga can eliminate pain, or that voting with our dollars is a powerful strategy, or that our thoughts shape our reality; well, then I consider this blog to be successful. If one person shifts from mainstream thinking to questioning everything and making choices that truly honor the highest good of all (which naturally includes the planet we live on and all its inhabitants); well, then I am ecstatic.
I welcome all feedback as it inspires new thinking and inquiry. I’m grateful for this comment as if helped me to clarify my message. Will it change what I have to say? No, absolutely not. Will it change the way I say it? Maybe so. I believe in tough love and at this point in our evolution, it’s crucial for beings to wake up and take a stand for their values. I’m not willing to sugar coat that. If, however, there is any question of judgement being inferred from my words, I need to be careful to address that. I have no intention to make anyone feel “less than” me or anyone else. We’re all in this together and it is my true desire to elevate the consciousness of those whose paths cross mine. If I can practice unwavering devotion to my truth, so can you. So, thanks for the comment. I appreciate the opportunity to re-examine my motives and clarify my stance on non-judgement. When I say “question everything”, this includes ME!