I have never liked that question. Do you mean this year… this month… or perhaps my favourite song of all time?
Even if you asked me what my favourite song is right in this moment, I couldn’t tell you. The fact is I have dozens of favourite songs. Maybe even hundreds. I have an eclectic taste in music. From the Rolling Stones to Tchaikovsky. From Alison Russell to Elton John, and everything in between.
There are so many songs that I love listening to that I couldn’t possibly choose a favourite. Every one of them has something that resonates with me. There isn’t one that is better than the others.
So why am I writing this in a blog about spirituality? That’s because too often I find I’m comparing myself with others. “He’s taller than I am”. “She’s smarter than me.” “I’ll never be as good at (fill in the blank) as they are”. All that may be true, but that doesn’t mean they are better than I am.
A few years ago, I was at a live performance of the late Stuart McLean. Stuart was a very funny, and gifted storyteller. I was sitting in the theatre laughing so hard that my cheeks hurt, when the thought bubbled up from some remote part of my psyche “you’ll never be as good as he is”. That’s true. I am proud of my quick-wit, and I do love to tell stories but there’s no chance I’m ever going to be on a national tour, selling out shows everywhere I go.
And that’s okay.
In that moment, for the first time in more than five decades, I was finally able to understand that I didn’t have to be anything other than myself. My true, authentic self. For so long I had been pretending to be something else. Anything else.
Before that I would try to figure out who you wanted me to be, and then do my best to be that. I was like a human chameleon, and I know I’m not alone. I think that at some point in their life, everyone has experienced this to some degree.
The irony is that I’m happiest, and living my best life, when I let go of my insecurities and just be me.
I can’t tell you what my favourite song is, because I don’t have one; I have many. But I can tell you what the ingredients of my favourite songs (plural) are. They all have lyrics and music that are meaningful to me, that touch my soul at some level. They are written and performed by people who have allowed the Divine inside of them to freely express Itself.
So, what are the ingredients that make me the best person I can be?
Authenticity. Confidence. Allowing the Divine inside of me to freely express itself.
Remembering that I am a unique expression of Spirit. The key word there is unique. There is no other person in the world exactly like me. No one better, no one worse. Just different.
Now my goal is not to be better than anyone else. Every day I just want to be a better version of Derek, than I was the day before.
Namaste.
Derek
P.S. We have exciting news! At the time of writing this (mid-November) we are preparing for the first meeting of our board of directors. We have an amazing board with a wealth of experience. They will be a great asset to us all as we start to build our new community.
P.P.S. We will be attending Unity Vancouver Island this Sunday in Nanaimo. Amanda will be giving the talk at the service. We would love for you to join us there!
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