Mr. Mike

In what follows is a story about the second individual in the series, "Being True to Thyself." In case you want to be caught up to speed, start with the series introduction: All the World is a Stage; the Good, Bad, and the Ugly. Then read up on the first person, Lindsey, and see how she is a warrior woman who dares to be herself.

This is Mr. Mike, a knight. Not the sort awarded by a monarch. This individual is brave, courageous, and strong in a different way.

He is not picture perfect, without flaw, blemish, or imperfection.

He is a man whose experiences have molded and sculpted him into who he is today. Though conscientious and anxious about what others might think, he utilizes what he has weathered in life to listening to others and to guide people in helpful and tangible ways.

Does that sound a bit too ordinary? Not extraordinary enough?

Let us take a closer look.

He once was an impressionable, younger man who went to great lengths to hide his anxious, scared, and nervous self behind an understanding, kind, and confident mask, He went to great lengths to hide his true self: he drank, befriended the popular crowd in school, rode aback a motorcycle.

The mask he chose to wear in those early days was to appear kind, confident, understanding, and caring; all while feeling scared and anxious inside.

Those were not his best of times.

***

Fast forward some.

He has discovered that what was once a mask worn with the intent of deceiving or at least covering up the nervous and uncertain little boy was not all for the worse.

Learning to listen and processing what others shared have given him the opportunity to offer substantive, helpful suggestions to others. Instead of focusing on his own shortcomings or concerns, Mr. Mike has been able help others.

***

These days, he wears his mask not just to hide, but to offer a listening ear or lending hand to others. He wants others to know who he is; so, he is willing to risk the dangerous and reveal who he truly is: wise, caring, with a bit of anxiousness and concern mix into the bundle. That is Mr. Mike. He dares to be himself.

Lindsey

With the spirit of encouraging and inspiring everyone out there to become acquainted with oneself and learn to be comfortable and accepting of oneself, I have started a series, "Being True to Thyself," wherein I will include snapshots of individuals who dare to be themselves, imperfections and all, and are becoming stronger, full-of-life people.

Lindsey is the first individual in my series.

This is Lindsey, a warrior woman. She takes courage in expressing her feelings and thoughts in conversations and in art, some between people and some in art form.

In many aboriginal cultures as well as other groups, tattoos were not seen as a deviance or fringe to be avoided, but it was a badge of honor to be earned, a rite of passage.

For Lindsey, tattoos express points of significance, whether regarding (remarkable) approaches to life...

 or pieces that invite us to hear more about her story.

These visible tattoos are  a peek into who this warrior woman is. She has dared to investigate, introspect, and ask hard questions of the world and of herself. She has trudged through painful, difficult, muddy circumstances, to grow and to help others.

This beautiful warrior woman fights important battles; by defending the under privileged and wading past preconceived notions, stifling stereotypes, and unrealistic expectations.