The Naked Truth. Issue 9

"The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are." Carl Jung

Look at the man in the center of this week's image. Pay special attention to that satisfied smile. A joyful, confident man enjoying an absolutely wonderful, silly afternoon in the center of a village celebration. A man living his most authentic life, while dressed in costume. My husband. Surrounded by beautiful can-can girls.

This image brings me utter delight.

Meeting in our 20's, Steve and I have grown up together these past 40 years. We know each other better than anyone else. And yet. There was so much youthful time navigating careers, relationships and decades dressed up in layers of insecurity, fakery and fear. But finally with age came the shedding of stratum to reveal the naked truth of ourselves. And so in many ways, I feel I am just getting to know this smiling man in costume. 

Why does it take so long for we humans to reveal the original?

And yet I find no desire to go back in time to and admonish my younger self.

I am grateful for her ignorance. Youth is not wasted on the young. We were supposed to be exactly that dumb. 

It is the relief of shedding our youthful protective layers which brings such glee now. It is quid pro quo for the decay.

I am not alone. Surrounded by my like-wise aging friends and family, we are all getting naked at a life party of sorts -- metaphorically of course. We laugh more, cry some, makes fools of ourselves and say I love you often.

We have earned the privilege to get at the naked truth of who we truly are. And it is a grand good time.