Organically You

🌱 Organic describes things that are natural or related to nature. For many of us, this certification or term is an important qualifier for the foods or products we choose while caring for ourselves and our village 🌎. But how do we really embrace that qualifier when it pertains to our unique self? 🌿✨

We live in a time where choices are abundant, opinions are rampant, and divisiveness seems more prevalent than unity . A quick Google search provides us with an overwhelming amount of information to be sifted through, dissected, applied, regurgitated, or voided. We also have the ability to shop from home after researching products and comparing them to others while simultaneously utilizing reviews to make up our minds 💭—and for many of us, that seal of organic certification matters.

BUT does that organic authentication hold the same weight in your day-to-day life? In your relationships? 💑 Personal or professional growth? 📈 Parenting? 👨‍👩‍👧 Friendship? 🤝 Your decision-making, soul-searching, dream-casting, and in your unique self that sets you apart, making you organically you? 🌻

Do you compare yourself or seek validation from others? 🤔 Do you trade in or return parts of yourself for artificial, inorganic pieces that appeal to the masses? 🎭 Do you quiet the song in your heart 🎶 to beat to the drums of others? Do you change your beliefs or ignore core values to fit a square peg into a round hole? Do you set your organic self on the shelf and reach for the conventional, synthetic, and overly produced, inessential “qualities” that are mainstream at the moment? Let us remember that this is cyclic and changes over time … polyester, bell bottoms, leather mini-skirts, olive green kitchen appliances with yellow linoleum floors, and orange shag carpet! NOW, don’t get me wrong, I personally LOVE all things vintage 💖 and embrace that quality about myself. However, many items that are dear to me are viewed as historical, archived, and non-essential to others, which is absolutely OK! ✅

What is not ok is changing my love of vintage and tucking it away in an effort to be pleasing or appealing to others while seeking their validation. Or even worse, believing that erasing non-threatening, loving, peaceful, and unique aspects about myself will change a desired outcome 🪞. Perhaps the promotion 🏆, larger home 🏡, more expensive vehicle 🚗, or extravagant lifestyle is not in my best interest if, in fact, I have to change my colors, values, or beliefs to obtain them. On the contrary, if I grow organically, move organically, and love organically, all the right pieces will seamlessly fall into place and thrive 🌱💫.

My son is a reminder of this. Even though I have failed as a parent in many ways . Nonetheless, one of my proudest achievements in life thus far has been watching my son ALWAYS embrace his unique self 🌟. In doing so, he has been a protector, a mentor, someone to laugh with, cry with, and always the life of the party 🎉! He likes what he likes, and popular opinion does not concern him. He is kind and compassionate 💖, and I’ve watched him make extremely hard decisions based on his core values alone. He changes his colors for no one, and I’d like to say, “he got that from his Momma.” 😊

He has friends of various backgrounds, beliefs, interests, cultures, and religions and has a heart as big as the moon 🌙. He knows how to show up and when to walk away from toxicity 💪. He knows how to choose grace for others and himself 🙏. He knows that no one gets it right all the time and that he won’t either. He knows that bitterness is an anchor to his soul ⚓️, where grace sets him free 🕊️. He knows that “right fighting” never wins and that you can lead a horse to water but cannot make him drink 🐴💧. He knows that positive change comes from within first and exudes later. He knows how to be authentically and organically himself, and my greatest wish is that unique quality about him never changes 💖.

SO, in a nutshell …

People do not get to tell you who you are 🌿. Make peace with your own soul 🕊️ and give no one the power to tell you that you’re something that you are not. Know who you are and be ok when others do not understand you or believe in the same things that make you, organically you 🌺🌞!

Be kind and ok with those who are different from you 🫶. It's only in this place we can all flourish in the most beautiful and unique garden 🌷🌻🌹, made up of varying colors, aromas, and depth, where peace and love easily thrive because they can spread out authentically in organic fertile soil 🌱💚.