What is an Authentic Life?

Living life according to a value system that many folks might consider out of date or old fashioned: Faith, family and a strong work ethic.

The thing about values is they never really do go out of date. God, family, love of country and maintaining traditional ways of living are, I believe, inherently necessary to the American way of life.

To live life authentically means to immerse oneself in the wonder of the natural world whether that means walking outdoors in the splendor of green or perhaps, creating green in your yard and home by gardening. And then jarring the produce which your garden has yielded in abundance.

It means cooking delicious, wholesome foods and dining al fresco while savoring the flavor of your homemade wine. Simple things for everyday: using fabric napkins in place of paper because you can and life is too short to save them for someday. It’s wearing your finest clothes, whenever and just because.

Authentic is synonomous with genuine and real. Real often takes time and perseverance to achieve. Not being afraid to try, whether is it painting a room in your home-by choice or necessity-, choosing to fix something that is broken instead of discarding and buying new. The reward is satisfaction that comes from a successful challenge.

An authentic life is one experienced to the fullest extent of one’s circumstance. Not losing a sense of wonderment over simple but fulfilling everyday occurences – the sudden appearance of a Monarch butterfly in the garden, the memory of the taste of salt air from the ocean and how it makes you feel when you remember that one spectacular day. The unmistakable scent of laundry line-dried in the sun and fresh air.

Being engaged every day, learning and the desire to put that knowledge into practice. Learning and the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake never gets old.

It is living life each and every day, challenging oneself to leave the comfort zone, attempt something difficult, completly new and keep at it until the reward of achievement is recognized deep within. Satisfaction and fulfillment. It’s a pace of life anathema to the frenetic norm.

And it’s in the moments set aside each day to just be; reflect on the day, meditate or most of all to pray and give thanks.

Come, live an authentic life..