Few people live an authentic life. Very few. I’m unclear at times if I’m living an authentic life. Uncertainty acts as a helper and keeps me honest. It forces me to check in with my inner self to ensure I’m doing my very best.

To live an authentic lifestyle requires re-thinking the importance of life itself. It was, and is, challenging to say the least. However, I do know that when you live an authentic life (even in short bursts), you are living in a way that resonates with your inner being. You avoid connecting yourself with destructive habits, relationships or lifestyles. You are in touch with your real self.

From minute to minute each day, you are the same “you” and people around you don’t guess who you are … they just know. At work, at play and at home you are the same person. Authentic “self” means possessing inner strength. It also means living a life void of manipulation, power plays, and hatred.

Being authentic means creating a path in front of you (and in your wake) that feels somewhat spiritual but wholly natural. Authenticity means you aren’t afraid of truth. It also means you deal with fear in a way that builds character and strengthens you rather than debilitating you. The path is hard to follow at times because life throws plenty of diversions to test us. In reality those tests are just ‘tests’ … little sign posts to guide us … if we elect to listen.

For the past year this blog site has acted as a compass of sorts – giving me some direction and enlightenment about authenticity. Sure, I’ve had plenty of moments (and days) where I was not authentic. But when those events occurred, I made course corrections to realign my thinking.

As I’ve aged I see more, but need glasses to read. I eat more, but weigh less. I ride further, but recover slower. As I’ve become more authentic, I realize how difficult it is to try. Frankly, being authentic is all about choice. It’s a choice to either do or not do. There is no “try.”

I shall doeth.