Being Our True Selves

"Never hide your green hair --- They can see it anyway." Angeles Arrien

What a funny way to encourage a child to be true to herself and not hide part of who she is.  The above quote was said to Angeles by her grandmother.  Each of us gets messages, once we go out into the world, that something about ourselves is not acceptable.  The result is we begin to hide those parts, and they very often are the most powerful parts of ourselves.  We each got messages on the way to lunch, on the playground, in class that would encourage us to be ashamed of some aspect of ourselves.  Whether it is the freckles we have, the way we talk, how we learn -- each of us draws attention from others to shut down part of who we are.  I hope all children are encouraged to be all of who they can be, and I encourage each of you to do the same.  The world is a better place when we show up fully as who we are.