Eccentric or Authentic?
“Authenticity is not something we have or don't have. It's a practice—a conscious choice of how we want to live. Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It's about the choice to show up and be real.” - Brené Brown
“I find only freedom in the realms of eccentricity.”
- David Bowie
As we age, if we’re getting it right, some people will call us bonkers. We learn moral courage, the refusal to bend the knee to social customs. The stronger the character, the more likely you’re going to speak your mind and dance your dance. The more eccentrics we have in a society, the more we innovate, the more we reward “thinking different,” the more interesting our art.
It’s not a choice between eccentricity and authenticity. An authentic, older human who is willing to stretch the boundaries because they don’t give an “f” what anyone thinks of them may be called eccentric. But, I call them genius. Thank God for Iris Apfel, Elton John, PeeWee Herman, Annie Lamott, Howard Hughes, Ross Perot, Patti Smith and all the other “crazy ones.”
What do I want to be when I grow up? Authentic with a healthy dollop of eccentricity.
-Chip
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