Reach out and connect

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Every social media platform has this section. The dreaded "tell me about yourself" question commonly asked before the start of an interview or a podcast. As an introduction before a speech or presentation, we are encouraged to give a professional autobiography.  When we present ourselves to the world, wouldn't it be wonderful if it was acceptable to say; 

I am a night owl, but my favorite time of day is first thing in the morning when the world is quiet and nothing has been disturbed yet.

I love the smell of puppy breath and summer rain on the pavement. 

My favorite color is any that can be painted with watercolors.

My favorite sound in the entire world is the laughter of a baby. 

I'm a desert girl that loves ice hockey. 

My favorite hello is that of my dog when I have been anywhere for more than five minutes. 

I love soft-knitted blankets and warm cups of tea.

I love fresh sheets on the bed and new socks on my feet. 

I secretly love when my youngest daughter steals my makeup because I know one day she will move away, and I will find all my things right where I left them. 

The sound of people laughing in the distance makes me smile wide with wonder; what is bringing them such joy that they are expressing it so loudly? 

I love the moon but hate the dark.

I love the look of freshly stocked vegetables in my refrigerator, but I would rather eat cake. 

I only like water if it has ice in it, and I only drink it with a straw. 

I love the thundering sound of a Friday night concert and the peaceful serenity of a quiet Sunday morning. 

I love happily ever afters, but only if they are preceded by massive trials and tribulations. 

You will find almost every genre of music in my playlists. 

I love meeting new people and getting lost in a crowd but also cherish the moments with just myself. 

I love traveling to new cities but also the comfort of home. 

I love great big full-body hugs from my husband, especially when I try to pull away and he pulls me in tighter. 

I weep when I see happy little families enjoying lunch or playing in the park, for those days are long gone for me. 

I love kites and beautifully colored rocks. 

I love the vastness of the sea but also the mightiness of the mountains. 

I love long talks on the phone with my oldest daughter. 

I keep buying books even as ten lay unread on my nightstand.

These are the things that I would love to hear about a person who is being introduced to me for the first time. These things tell me more about someone than the degrees they possess, the positions they've held, or what they have accomplished 

When did it become a standard that we have to present ourselves by our accolades and accomplishments? How does listing our status within a company or how many keynote speeches we've done offer an authentic depiction of who we really are?

Maybe that's that point. Maybe it's easier to hide behind academics and status than it is to reveal small intimate details about ourselves. Maybe revealing these things feels too personal and vulnerable. 

The masks of anonymity we wear hinder the connection that we crave. 

Let's remove our masks, if only a little, and reveal a few things about ourselves that others can relate to. I believe we find true connection in the declaration of the innermost parts of ourselves.

♥

Sheri