The A to Z Blogging Challenge. Twenty-six posts in thirty days. It's doable!
So here we go with A is for Always be true to yourself.
LAUNCH!!!
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Polonius:
This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell, my blessing season this in thee!
Hamlet Act 1, scene 3
“To thine own self be true” is an often-repeated bit of
advice. Polonius, who has an overblown sense of his own importance, nonetheless
gives his son this very good advice. If you’re true to yourself, that is loyal
to your own interests, it’s far easier to be happy and play well with others.
It took me a long time to understand the implications of
those words. I struggled to be woman, daughter, wife, friend because I was
afraid to be me. I lived to the expectations of others and it simply didn’t
work out well.
I was thirty when I slipped the collar of my upbringing and
set out, truly on my own for the first time in my life. Yes, I floundered some,
but once “to thine own self be true” became my mantra, life got better. I
learned to set boundaries that were true to who I am and I learned to enforce
them.
Being true to yourself is a path to happiness. If your true
self is caring for animals - go for it. If your true self is a gardener and
sharing your produce - go for it. If your true self is being a teacher - go for
it.
It’s been over a decade since I admitted to myself how
important words are to me. Some people think words are merely communication
tools, but to me, words are like lovers. I’m a writer, and I’ll always be true
to that part of me.
Always be true to yourself.
Rayne
