Written January 24, 2020
We know this already, but I’m going to say it again anyways.What you see on social media is not reality! Heck, what we see in the “real world” is not even reality.
I meet people all the time who are very different in person than they are in the internet realm. I meet people that reveal different parts of themselves to me when no one else is listening.
I often have people tell me, “I’ve never told anyone this before.” I hold these secrets tenderly.
The fear of social rejection keeps us playing the game of pretend.
I have the honour of holding the secret vulnerabilities of humans, and what I’ve discovered is...
We’re all weird. We all carry our own darkness—those parts of ourselves we hide because we fear rejection. But it’s also in our weirdness and our shadows where the deepest parts of our humanity reside.
We all have dreams and wild wonderings that feel exciting yet seem to teeter on the edge between delusion and unveiling the mysteries of our life.
When you see the crafted image of another, whether it be in person or online, remember that there’s so much more.
Beneath what we choose to show, there’s untamed madness and seemingly irrational passions that long for us to be free.
I see the depths of people daily and I’m reminded again and again how unsafe it can feel for people to be real.
We try our best to tuck in all the messy bits, only for the unraveling to eventually burst out our eyes and mouths in a wonderful display of emotional lava. Burning a destructive path that eventually hardens into something we can finally see and stand on.
I’m not afraid of tears or anger like I used to be. The outpouring of emotion is an opportunity for us to see what has been stuck inside. An opportunity for transformation.
I love the messiness of humans more and more lately. It reminds me that, in our imperfections, we find the deepest truths. I’ve learned that embracing this messiness—both in others and in myself—is where healing begins.
It’s the neat and nice facade that I find uncomfortable. It’s like I can see into the windows, knowing there’s complexity and rawness inside, but on the outside, there’s often a sign that says "everything’s fine!" with a tired smiley face.
I get it though. The fear of the truth being seen is hard. And that’s why I do the work I do. To be the person who you invite inside and say, “Well, here it is... the mess and the party I’ve been hiding from everyone else.” Thank you for letting me come into your world.

From an animist perspective, everything in existence—humans, animals, plants, and the earth itself—holds energy and spirit. We are all part of an intricate web of life, and in that interconnectedness, our messiness is sacred. Our vulnerabilities, the parts of us we hide, are not flaws to be ashamed of, but rather aspects of our spirit that deserve to be seen and embraced. Just as the earth holds the wildness of nature—the storms, the quiet, the chaos, and the beauty—so do we, as humans, hold the same spectrum of emotions and experiences. By accepting our own messiness, we connect with the earth’s rhythm and allow ourselves to be part of the living, breathing, evolving universe.
Thoughts to Contemplate:
What parts of yourself have you been hiding from others or even from yourself? What would it feel like to let these parts be seen, without shame?
How can embracing your messiness help you feel more connected to the world around you?
What would it look like to honour your vulnerabilities as sacred aspects of your humanity, rather than weaknesses?
In what ways do you hide behind a facade, and what would it take to allow your true, unpolished self to shine through?
Consider the balance between your inner world and the way you present yourself to others. How can you create more authenticity in both?
How can you bring more compassion to the messy parts of your life—both your own and others’—and allow them to be part of your healing journey?
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