Next week, my eleven-year-old will graduate from elementary school. He will spend his last days as a fifth-grader, and then we will spend the summer soaking up the sun and digging in the sand and getting excited about the approaching football season. And at the beginning of August, when vacation is over, he will get on a new bus, at a new time, and go to a new school, his first day as a sixth-grader and the beginning of his middle school years. It’s a really big deal.
In my previous post, I relayed the importance of showing grace to ourselves. Often, throughout our lives, we are our own worst critics. We can be particularly harsh and show ourselves little mercy when we’ve failed or fallen short of our own expectations. And the last thing we want is to share these failures or inadequacies with the rest of the world.
Today, reality TV and social media give us a glimpse into the everyday lives of seemingly ordinary people, showcasing their triumphs as well as their trials, and many of us find ourselves captivated. Creative non-fiction, personal essays, and memoirs are the reality TV of the literary world. Authors such as Anne Lamott, Maya Angelou, and Joan Didion take us on unforgettable journeys through their lives with brutal honesty, baring their souls and often breaking our hearts, but giving us hope in the process.
Most of us, myself included, admire those brave enough to go on a “no holds barred” journey of self-discovery. It’s a process easier to applaud from the sidelines than to participate in ourselves. We’re inspired by the courage to openly explore afflictions and imperfections, and we graciously accept the opportunity to learn from what others have experienced and endured, while saving us from partaking in such a journey ourselves.
The truth is, putting ourselves out there for the entire world to see is a terrifying thought. Letting others in on our imperfections leaves us open to criticism and judgement, two things we zealously avoid.