“But….”  she asked,  “… Is it Authentic?”

Then, with the heaviness of strongman’s barbell…..  the curator of the museum glared over the top of his glasses.

“Madam.”  He replied with all the condescendence he could muster,  “Who is to say what IS… and what is NOT authentic.”

Ahhhhh.  Scenes from an Art Museum.  Just like a great sandwich.  Crusty on the outside… but really meaty on the inside.

So once again, The Mona Lisa brings me to ask this.   Just what does it mean to be authentic.

As the dictionary gives it to us:

Authentic is an adjective…. which means….”something” of undisputed origin; genuine.  OR …. made or done in the traditional or original way …. OR…. based on facts; accurate or reliable.

But what about life.  Our lives? I think Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we THINK we’re supposed to be….. and embracing who we are. We can choose authenticity… if we want to.  It can make us feel hopeful… and also a little nervous… at the same time.

We feel hopeful because being real is something we value. And nervous?  Well… choosing authenticity is a huge undertaking. Choosing authenticity means….. that we have to have courage enough to be imperfect and be okay with it.  We also have to allow ourselves to be vulnerable, all the while… knowing how to set boundaries.

It also means exercising compassion.  We are all in this together… all alike.  This  comes from knowing that we are all made of both strength and personal struggle. Whole hearted love for ourselves….. and others.   Practicing authenticity is a part of our soul-searching in life.

But it is one way we can find true respect, happiness and grace.

The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows.  —  Buddha