Me Too

There\’s something I\’ve been meaning to tell you. I hope you don\’t take it the wrong way because my intentions are pure.

But someone needs to tell you. Since I have your attention, I believe I am the right guy for the job.

Are you sitting down? It might be best if you were.

Are you ready? Here it goes…

You are screwed up.

You make mistakes. Sometimes you make bad choices. Sometimes you hurt other people with your words or your actions. Sometimes you have regrets and wish you could make things right… but you can\’t.

You are deeply human and deeply flawed.

You might make other people think you\’ve got it all together, but you know the truth.

Sometimes you lay awake at night worried about your business, your family and your health. You just can\’t sleep.

Sometimes you beat yourself up for that thing you did which plagues your thoughts and fears. What if they knew? What if they found out?

Sometimes you find ways to self-medicate from the trials or pain you carry. What is it? Drugs? Alcohol? Food? Sex? Television? The Internet? Relationships?

Your pain may not even be the result of your own choices. It doesn\’t take but one person to have hurt you deeply for you to withdraw into your own method of coping.

Let\’s face it. Most of our parents were screwed up as well. How many screwed up parents does it take to raise a screwed up child?

But the bottom line is still the same. You are screwed up. And that\’s just the way it is.

All this may sound harshly accusatory and horribly judgmental. I understand why you would feel that way.

But there\’s no need to get all defensive with me. After all, I may as well be looking into a mirror as I say this. Because when I say you are screwed up, I have to add one statement in order to make it complete.

\”Me too\”

I, too, am just a human being. I, too, know what it is like to experience pain, loss, betrayal and grief. I, too, know what it is like to carry shame for actions or words of the past, or to feel the consequences of someone else\’s choices.

Some of us are better at putting on a good face, but inside we all struggle with similar feelings and emotions.

What do the President of the United States and the homeless guy on the corner have in common? Both are fully human and both are flawed. And whether either would admit it publicly or not, they both experience not only the positive human emotions such as happiness, but also the negative emotions such as sadness and fear.

And you know what?

It\’s all good.

In fact, recognizing our \”shadow\” self is a healthy part of self-actualization. I believe it\’s only when a person can admit their flaws and embrace the full of their humanity that they can become free to pour out their lives for others.

Life is beautiful! From the first breath of the newborn baby and the wonder of an elderly couple clinging to each other in their final days to the wonder of the human body and the majestic nature that surrounds us, we are all blessed and fortunate to be alive!

Life is good! There is such great reward in sucking the marrow out of our days, experiencing the joy of touching other\’s lives in a positive manner and being free to be exactly who we are… no more and no less.

Just because we are flawed doesn\’t mean we aren\’t valuable and worthy.

Just because we have failed at business, in relationships or in achieving goals doesn\’t mean we can\’t grow.

And just because we make mistakes doesn\’t mean we don\’t deserve a second chance.

You ARE valuable. You CAN grow. And you DO deserve a second chance!

I often visit a church in Northern Colorado where \”Me too\” is the mantra of the congregation. A group of people unafraid to admit their flaws and failings, they are in good company with each other. In fact, all are welcome to a church where we can openly confess such things and say \”me too.\”

And that\’s where I got the t-shirt. :-)

We live in a beautiful world. But we also live in a world with a great deal of pain. While there are a select few who live a charmed life with very few trials, none of us are immune to the more challenging realities of life.

Yes, I am screwed up and sometimes I fail. But screwed up doesn\’t mean beyond repair. It\’s doesn\’t mean unsalvageable. And it doesn\’t mean unteachable.

The key is to learn from our mistakes and attempt not to repeat them. Besides, why repeat the same old mistakes when there are so many new mistakes to make!

Like you, I have my own worries, fears and doubt. I am deeply flawed.

And I am fully human.

I wouldn\’t have it any other way.

How about you? The comments form below invites your thoughts, feelings and opinions. I\’d love to hear from you… warts and all. :-)