NOTE: This is something that I actually wrote back on August 8th of 2009, yet after my blog from Sunday, it seems appropriate to repost it. Maybe it will speak to you.
"I wish people would learn to like me for who I'm pretending to be." -Mike G. Williams, http://www.mikewilliamscomedy.com/
When I first read this, I chuckled because it was funny. Then I actually laughed because it is funny and true. Everyone is pretending to be something that they are not. Do not deny it. We all are. Even when we sometimes do not realize it, and even though it may not be at every moment, we are phony.
To be clear, I am not talking about intentionally doing something to appear to be something that you are not. I am not talking about gals holding in your belly and pushing back your shoulders to look taller and slimmer or guys sucking in your gut and flexing your muscles to appear to be in better shape than you are. I am talking about the unintended times when we possibly are not even being true to ourselves.
Maybe you are pretending to be happy when you are not. Are you keeping up appearances because you do not want to bring down those around you? Are you hiding behind a smile because you are uncomfortable with attention and just want to avoid the possibility of someone noticing and asking you if you are okay? Are you keeping what bothers you bottled up inside because it is easier than dealing with it? After all, fake it 'til you make it, right?
Maybe you are pretending to have a good relationship with your family when you do not have as good of a relationship as you -- or they -- need. Do you spend quality time with your husband or wife, or do you spend more time with your computer? Do you make time to focus on your children, or are you too focused on your job? When you spend time with your loved ones, is it time that counts, or is it just sitting in the same room watching television?
Challenge yourself today to set aside an hour or two today with no television, no radio, no computer, no distractions, and just enjoy your family. Talk with them. Ask them questions. Listen. Learn about what is on their minds. Appreciate one another. Remember to hug each other. Then...do it again tomorrow.
Speaking of family, do you keep in touch with your parents (and siblings)? Do you see them or speak with them often because you love them, or do you only bother to contact them when you need something? Will you be satisfied if your children are the kind of children to you that you have been to your parents? If not, what can you do today to change that?
Maybe you are pretending to be blonde. Well...actually...I have nothing to say about that.
Maybe you pretend to be a good Christian. Yes, I said that. Perhaps we pretend because we do not want people to know what we are really like. Do I pretend? Am I a good Christian? I mean, I know that I am not a perfect Christian because there is no such thing, but am I at least a good one? ...or am I just pretending? Why would I pretend? Am I putting on an act to try to make others think that I am good so that they will like me? What if I am not good? Am I afraid that they will not like the real me, the me that sins and hurts and fears and questions? Am I not satisfied enough with who I really am to just be genuine? What would make me not be satisfied?
What good would pretending do, anyway? The Lord always knows the truth. I mean, do think that I can fool God? Ha! Who do I think I am?
So often in our lives we are pretending. We are trying to look smarter, happier, more attractive, funnier, richer, poorer, whatever it is that suits the situation. We try to impress people by being something that we are not. Why is it so difficult for humans to just be who we are?
"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." -Dr. Suess
"I wish people would learn to like me for who I'm pretending to be." -Mike G. Williams, http://www.mikewilliamscomedy.com/
When I first read this, I chuckled because it was funny. Then I actually laughed because it is funny and true. Everyone is pretending to be something that they are not. Do not deny it. We all are. Even when we sometimes do not realize it, and even though it may not be at every moment, we are phony.
To be clear, I am not talking about intentionally doing something to appear to be something that you are not. I am not talking about gals holding in your belly and pushing back your shoulders to look taller and slimmer or guys sucking in your gut and flexing your muscles to appear to be in better shape than you are. I am talking about the unintended times when we possibly are not even being true to ourselves.
Maybe you are pretending to be happy when you are not. Are you keeping up appearances because you do not want to bring down those around you? Are you hiding behind a smile because you are uncomfortable with attention and just want to avoid the possibility of someone noticing and asking you if you are okay? Are you keeping what bothers you bottled up inside because it is easier than dealing with it? After all, fake it 'til you make it, right?
Maybe you are pretending to have a good relationship with your family when you do not have as good of a relationship as you -- or they -- need. Do you spend quality time with your husband or wife, or do you spend more time with your computer? Do you make time to focus on your children, or are you too focused on your job? When you spend time with your loved ones, is it time that counts, or is it just sitting in the same room watching television?
Challenge yourself today to set aside an hour or two today with no television, no radio, no computer, no distractions, and just enjoy your family. Talk with them. Ask them questions. Listen. Learn about what is on their minds. Appreciate one another. Remember to hug each other. Then...do it again tomorrow.
Speaking of family, do you keep in touch with your parents (and siblings)? Do you see them or speak with them often because you love them, or do you only bother to contact them when you need something? Will you be satisfied if your children are the kind of children to you that you have been to your parents? If not, what can you do today to change that?
Maybe you are pretending to be blonde. Well...actually...I have nothing to say about that.
Maybe you pretend to be a good Christian. Yes, I said that. Perhaps we pretend because we do not want people to know what we are really like. Do I pretend? Am I a good Christian? I mean, I know that I am not a perfect Christian because there is no such thing, but am I at least a good one? ...or am I just pretending? Why would I pretend? Am I putting on an act to try to make others think that I am good so that they will like me? What if I am not good? Am I afraid that they will not like the real me, the me that sins and hurts and fears and questions? Am I not satisfied enough with who I really am to just be genuine? What would make me not be satisfied?
What good would pretending do, anyway? The Lord always knows the truth. I mean, do think that I can fool God? Ha! Who do I think I am?
So often in our lives we are pretending. We are trying to look smarter, happier, more attractive, funnier, richer, poorer, whatever it is that suits the situation. We try to impress people by being something that we are not. Why is it so difficult for humans to just be who we are?
"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." -Dr. Suess
Very deep thoughts today. Makes me think a bit. Thank you. Now, go on with your journey. :-)
ReplyDeleteWell said. :-)
ReplyDeleteDr. Suess was a very smart man. Great statement to put at the end of this posting.
ReplyDeleteIt is good to realize that we need to be healthy in every aspect of our lives. It is not healthy to pretend, especially when we are lying to ourselves. Very thought provoking!
Thought provoking, indeed! Considering we teach our children to "be real", I hope that we model that very statement as "lights in the darkness"!
ReplyDelete