Stay True to Yourself

Dear Reader,

Lately I have been fascinated by talent and authenticity. I’m not talking about the talent of giants we know and love, like a Yo-Yo Ma or a Whitney Houston. What I love is that moment when an “ordinary person” steps up and reaches for greatness. I’m talking about people like the eighty year old great-grandmother who blew away the crowd last weekend on “Britain’s Got Talent,” or the thirteen year old boy whose cover of “Paparazzi” by Lady Gaga is going viral on YouTube.

When I watched his video (over a million views and going strong,) I knew that he was where he was supposed to be. He was in the flow, and he nailed the song. When magic like that happens, everyone knows it.

Just for kicks, I read some of the comments left by viewers underneath his video. Along with the typical “You sound great,” and “I hope you get a record deal” comments, do you know what one comment was written over and over again?

“Stay true to yourself.”

Wow. These were mostly, I would guess, teenagers leaving the comments. They know what lies ahead. They know what awaits anyone who has the courage to have a vision and share it with the world. They know about the tests, the challenges, the pressure to change your vision just a little bit, and then a little more, so that it better meets expectations.

Stay true to yourself, they told him. That’s what we root for in this world, for someone to be authentic and see it through. No selling out. We know that talent does not have to be artistic; it might be a talent for teaching or taxi driving. Nor does it have to make anyone famous. It just has to be real.

Of course, as I read those comments, I had to ask if I have stayed true to myself. More times than I care to admit, I have not. But each of those times gave me a little more strength and a little more wisdom – making it a little easier to stay true to myself the next time. Some people are able to stay true to themselves right from the beginning. Others first have to find out who they are, and then grow into their greatness. And yes, we all do have greatness in us; I don’t doubt that for a second.

Dear reader, may you stay true to yourself as often as you can, and may you give others around you courage to do the same.  We need as much of it as we can get.

I honor your loving heart,

John