Authentic - what does it mean to you?

You read a lot about being authentic these days. Almost every self-help book has a chapter on it somewhere.

But what does it mean really?

Every person you ask will have a different answer to that question, but this is my blog so I'm going to share my perspective and experiences with you.

Throughout my school years, I was pretty much a nerd (there's those labels again). I was a bookworm, an academic. I was never labelled as a sporty type, but when I look back now, I was very sporty. I did athletics, netball, softball and orienteering - making the district teams for most of those sports. Funny.

Once I left school, I fell into a career in hospitality, which I loved. People are pretty great on the whole. Somewhere along the way, while I was still in my teens, I discovered crafts and became very interested in the self-sufficient lifestyle.

I had my children fairly young, and that took me in a different direction again. I was a working mum, but I still had the interest in making things and living a very simple, and I guess wholesome, life.

Over the years though, I veered away from the things that made me happy. There was no time, no money etc. Always plenty of excuses.

One of the things I like about getting older is realising that you need to make yourself happy. You need to do the things that make you feel real - authentic if you will. And it is by making time for the things you love that the feeling of joy becomes your reality on a daily basis.

These days, I am trying to give up doing things that don't bring me joy.. I am learning to say no. I am realising that it's ok to be who I want to be. I don't have a lot of people in my life who understand me, but as long as they accept me that's ok. If they don't accept that this is who I am then gently they slip out of my life.

So what am I doing these days then?

Funnily enough it is everything that was there all along - being active and exercise is important to me, I create and craft, I read alot, I try to live a simple, mindful life. I appreciate everything.

I no longer work in an office in a job I loathe. I'm no longer with a man just because I thought I couldn't look after myself.

There comes a time in everyone's life where you have to make a decision - stay on the safe path or explore new territory, as scary as it might be. After getting off the path, I find that cutting my own way through the undergrowth of the forest isn't as scary as I thought it would be. It's hard work, yes. But it's more rewarding than I could imagine and brings more joy into my life than that safe, smooth and uninspiring concrete path.

In the end, being authentic is, I think, about making choices.

We are all where we are because of the choices we have made in our lives.

I believe it's time to take responsibility. To make choices based on who we are, not what the world expects.

It's time to be authentic. Live your own life, for you.