Would you recognize yourself if someone told you their truth of you? If they were to tell you their honest and unvarnished appraisal of all that they see in you, could you bear to listen to the details of your blemishes and see them for what they are, changeable obstacles that keep you struggling and suffering, perhaps treading water until you exhaust your energy and go under?  What are you so damn afraid of and why do you choose not to change?  Would knowing that you are responsible for your own unhappiness kill you?  Would knowing that you are the cause of other’s weariness and fatigue drag you under?  Can you not see that you could tweak a few things and be different?  Why do you hang onto your persona?  How does this misery serve you?

There is you, my new friend!  Can you see you?  Do you recognize your strengths and attractiveness buried under your anger and self-loathing?  I have yet to hear the stories that you tell yourself daily.  I suspect you expect much more. You have shine and brilliance that draws others all around you but you repel yourself.  Why do you feel the way that you do?  What is it that you think you must accomplish or prove?

I know that you ma’am will never, ever try and see.  You too are flawed but you forgive all you do.  You shine a bright light on the failures of others to keep from seeing your own.  There are many people out there just like you.

To that lady I know well, who shares all of her sadness and glories.  You are looking at the surface and seeing outcomes and results.  You scurry and make judgments without thinking through the problem.  You are reactive and spontaneous but you fail to make connections.  Just slow down. Think it over.  Own the problems without blame and then make the changes that need changing.

I see all you beauties with all your flaws and handicaps.  I see, and hear the explanations you give and the excuses you provide for not changing.  I just don’t understand why it is you hold onto them.  I cannot fathom the reasons for not trying.  I do not understand the need for the tales that you tell yourselves.  So you are not the smartest, nor the most successful, nor the funniest.  You are arrogant and unthinking of others.  That can change.  You are boastful and braggadocious to cover your shortcomings. Stop bragging and your strengths and accomplishments will shine much brighter. You are shy and afraid; don’t cut others down to build yourself up.

Sit down and take off every stitch of your emotional clothing.  Take stock of your faults and then change them.  Be a better, kinder, more thoughtful person to not only others but yourself.  Be more honest and true with yourself and it will be true then with those around you. It all begins right there with your own naked self.  Be brave, be honest.