Well, feed him his favorites.  Sometimes that’s all you can do. 

The youngest of my two military sons is leaving for somewhere in December.  He’s hoping for Afghanistan.  I don’t get it.  Well, I do, but I don’t.  I totally admire his wife.  She’s an ace when it comes to putting up with the uncertainty of military life.  I don’t envy her.

Meanwhile, in Dallas, my eighth grandchild was born…Willow Grace…to my middle son, who’s an LPN.  So there’s always something to feel good about.

Wow, people have brought up so many thoughtful and thougt provoking ideas of being authentic that I found myself agreeing with them all, but my first gut feeling is that of being "genuine," as Jeanott mentioned above.  I have been described as "genuine" all of my life, by family, friends, and in evaluations during school internships.  Even when I’m going into a new situation and think "now is a chance to be anything I want," I just end up being me.  That is just my core personality, I guess.

As I age, it is not as pronounced as before (at least I don’t think so.)  It just doesn’t seem so vitally important anymore for me to let everyone know how I feel about things, or to always question people when I see discrepancies between their words and actions.  I’m kind of proud of myself when I’m silent.  There’s some peace in just letting go and let it be (more wise words from Al Anon.)

Anyway, I don’t know as much as I used to!  As I build up more years behind me, I find myself more puzzled by people.  One of the downsides to being a genuine person is assuming everyone around me is the same way, and that couldn’t be less true.  This fact has caused me much outrage over the years, but now I finally try to accept that people do things and act in ways that give them some sense of importance, or of being special or something, and just think "whatever, if it makes them feel good, fine."

I believe authentic is just being yourself.  So many people are fake, and pretend to be something they aren’t - this is especially bad when you fall in love w/ someone who isn’t being true to who they truly are.

I’m 24 and I am the most authentic person I know.  I do what I say, I say what I mean and I always keep my promises. So many people I know don’t do this and it angers me. I don’t pretend to be someone I’m not. Also, I am bipolar and ADD; being anything other than I am is impossible; I don’t lie because I couldn’t keep my lies straight, since sometimes, I can’t remember what I did or said yesterday or even a week ago…. :D Although, not remembering things sometimes gets me in trouble^_^

Authenticity cannot be taught, it must be lived consciously.

Authenticity has been a goal of mine for many, many, many years.  For me authenticity is telling the truth, without insulting anyone, without stepping on any toes, without bullying.  Rather, authenticity is being true to oneself and expressing oneself with genuine compassion and communication.  I am the most authentic when I’m painting on a canvas and demonstrating my love of being "artist".  

Some people never find out who they really are, but I have never had any choice but to be true to myself and others. "What you see is what you get."  I had a difficult family life and I have always felt different from other girls and other women. I don’t like girly stuff and I don’t have any conventionally feminine interests.  As a young girl I liked airplanes more than dolls and enjoyed reading stories of tiger hunting in India. I did not dream of getting married and having a kid , but I ended up doing exactly that to escape my mother’s chaotic household. 

 For me, pleasing people and making people like me has never been a high priority. It was all I could do to survive and overcome challenges most people never have to deal with. Putting on makeup and heels and looking like everybody else is not something I would ever want to do, so I will never do it. I am an authentic and real person because of my life experiences and because I know myself and my strengths.

I alone am responsible for what I achieve in life, and I have been able to prevail over a checquered background and attain dreams I have cherished since I was a child. Having seen my affluent family break up from divorce when I was a teenager taught me that materialistic comforts are fleeting and that happiness comes from inner strength and a deeply rooted sense of self.  I live a simple and solitary life surrounded by books and rocks and pet birds and my paintings, and I enjoy travelling to see birds in exotic locales. I can laugh at myself and my pit bull. Happiness is authenticity, for me!

This is a great topic! I was so many people at once and had no idea!  Wife, mother, and daughter plus a teacher. Anyway this last year in my mid 40’s my husband had to leave for 6 months and the children in their 20’s are not here anymore. That’s when I realized I had no idea what I liked. I am very good at taking care of my family but here I was alone and realized I’ve never lived alone in my life!

One night while taking out the garbage, my chocolate lab jumped on the door and locked me out at 11:30 at night in my P J’s. Basically underware!

I wasn’t about to know on the neighbors door to explain this, so I climbed on a porch table, 2chairs, climbed up to the roof , went in the window on the 2nd floor.  I laughed because I recognized this women I also remembered I liked her as well.

Discovering how to be authentic or myself changed my life! I even wrote 5 children’s books about this nutty lab  of mine while he was gone.  I forgot I’m creative and fun!

I find myself driving with the top down radio up and singing like I have a good voice!

The baby of our family (22 yr old )joined the military, I am proud, worried so I just keep my head where my feet are and it seems to be working.