Breathing grounded me. Stretching empowered me. Artistic expression gifted me. Authentic living...it's made my life one w/o regrets.
Wondering what a pair of
leopard-print stilettos has to do with my pledge to live life more
authentically? Trust me, there is
a connection!
A
girly girl from day one, my most prized holiday gift as a child was a Suzy Homemaker vanity—complete with a
three-way mirror, mini grooming kit and pink seat cushion. My teenaged years were complete with Love’s Baby Soft perfume, floral-printed
and pastel everything, and layers of highlighted, carefully-coiffed hair (okay,
big hair…sigh!).
Enter
(after a few years’ detour) college and later graduate school, the proverbial
career ladder climb and ascension into the management ranks. Like many women, I subscribed to the
established standard that I must always look and act the part of society’s
description of a “professional” woman in the workplace. Off came my long, blond locks and on
went the most serious-looking (and even androgynous) dark business suits I could
find—complete with starched-stiff collars underneath. My makeup was scant and my shoes were the least attractive,
(almost-manly) sensible flats that could be had. Gone were any aspects of myself that were too frilly or girly, as I truly believed
these hallmarks might undermine subsequent opportunities to successfully “make
it” in the working world.
After
far too many years of living a totally unauthentic life, I began to embark (bit
by bit) upon a personal quest, which included scads of wisdom seeking,
self-nurturing, and introspection.
This led to an eventual shift, which has resulted, this past couple of
years, in the most productive, successful, creative and self-fulfilled time of
my life; for it is has only been in this past few years that I have come to
fully realize my own tickled pinkness.
Living authentically
includes wearing my leopard-print high heels anywhere I desire—even to
important workplace meetings. And, guess what…I’m every
bit as professional as I was when adhering to others’ ideals! Now, however, I’m standing in my truth
and living life on my terms. Being authentically me has enriched my
life, made me more confident and happier. My pinkness is who I am, and when I
am living authentically, that is truly empowering!
In what ways can you
incorporate more authenticity into your life? Whatever it is, slip it on and strut your stuff! T.
