I find strength in my authenticity
I don’t hide my truth
Pretending is a waste of time
My heart guides my next move
I am determined
To find the gift in
Every opportunity
No matter the event
With more scars on my body
To define my experiences
I hold the strength of hindsight
And insight in my wisdom
I reside with my inner trust
Always looking for inspiration
Like a well-worn stuffed animal
Existing on comfort, warmth and presence
In The Velveteen Rabbit, Margery Williams Bianco says,
“Real isn't how you are made,' said the Skin Horse. 'It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.'
'Does it hurt?' asked the Rabbit.
'Sometimes,' said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. 'When you are Real you don't mind being hurt.'
'Does it happen all at once, like being wound up,' he asked, 'or bit by bit?'
'It doesn't happen all at once,' said the Skin Horse. 'You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand.”
Participants’ Reflections:
We spoke of earworms the other day. I had one during the meditation “Spirit of love come into me.” No matter what one’s belief, in god, a higher power, or whatever else, that's a power of love that accepts people. I never thought of The Velveteen Rabbit in terms of our aging. I am shabby, not the same after 40 years of marriage. Love is better than fear, to be grounded in love.
Practice being grounded in that love every moment of the day.
The reading made me think about different situations I’ve been in where I wish I'd shown more compassion, The Velveteen Rabbit tells me I'm a work in progress.
I have fear of what I will be doing this upcoming week giving a talk at a conference. But the fear is different than my fear in the past. Not as charged. I am more calm. I am living in gratitude today for all the help and support I am receiving.
I had fear yesterday of my grandkids seeing me with my bandages. It was perfect. There was a momentary reaction and then they accepted me.
I loved what you wrote and the reading you shared. I heard lots of “should” messages in my head. I loved the idea that we are becoming. Love lets us become. It takes time, it happens over time. Not perfect.
This reading is about realness and authenticity. It’s why I keep coming back to this group. The Velveteen Rabbit has a ministry for us. I used to have anxiety before speaking. The dean of my school said, “I'm glad to hear that.” Unsureness is good, it means the teacher is not cocky. It’s better to be on edge to keep the speaking real.
My preference for public speaking is to not script it; instead, use bullet points. Let the audience lead while hitting the points. Inject some humor. Let the audience talk to me.
Need your first sentence
In your talk, quote The Velveteen Rabbit