Masks. Love. Trust. Freedom.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to just BE who you are and to say what's really on your heart? Or maybe you are one of those people who is fine doing those things. I have to admit, I am not. Over the years I have come to realize just how much of a private person I am. There are so many things about me that I'm not willing to share with others. I think that's ok, but I often step back and ask myself why I do that. Is it fear? Am I afraid of what others will say? Sometimes I feel that the more people know about me, the more they have to use against me. But that's not a very loving way to think. Love believes the best, thinks the best. I do value being a private person at the same time because it's who I am. It's not that I'm ashamed of who I am, but there are certain tender parts that I don't want crushed under people's criticism or judgment. But is that a loving way to think? Or is that just having wisdom? I do know that the more I open up, the more others open up. But the foundation has to absolutely be love: where there is no condemnation, judgment, or criticism. Love builds trust. Trust. Being who we truly are means removing the mask. It means tearing down the walls we have spent so much time building and rebuilding--because there is no reason to hide who we are. I've talked about this before, but for years and years I wore a mask and I built walls. I felt safe behind them. It's downright scary to be vulnerable. Some of us hide behind our work, our children, our career, our weight, our beauty, scared to show the world our tenderness, flaws, weaknesses, or whatever we are trying to cover up. That's not a very freeing way to live. I want to be free. How about you?