Wednesday, November 1, 2023
When I was a child, one of the first things I could remember wanting was an Easy Bake Oven. In 1980, rural South Louisiana, boys didn’t bake, and they certainly didn’t play with girl’s toys! I was an innocent child who was merely expressing a sincere desire. All I knew was that I would enjoy it, and that playing with a toy oven would be fun. Isn’t that what we want from all people, that they are well-adjusted individuals who are free to be who they really are from the inside? The world cares too much about making others “fit in.”
I had seen my grandmother bake and loved helping her. She and I enjoyed baking together. I suppose in my little, five-year-old heart, I was just expressing a loving desire to do what felt natural. My mother got me an Easy Bake Oven for Christmas that year, but it didn’t take me long to figure out the world didn’t think I should have it, especially with two older brothers in the house.
I had similar experiences with wanting tap shoes, a Barbie Dream House, and piano lessons! As I matured into adolescence, I came to realize that I was attracted to boys, thus confirming that the world really seemed to hate everything that only felt natural. My authentic proclivities seemed to trigger negative responses. So, I learned to suppress them. When we suppress, we make up for it by trying to impress. To impress is to try to get positive attention from others by doing what they expect, not from doing what simply makes us happy. Conforming is an inner death. Expressing is an inner life and light. Authenticity expresses itself for the shear joy and love of doing so. Awaken to your joy, and be who you are. Honest expression is the only way to personal freedom.