Be Real

Happy Monday students! I hope you are completing all of your assignments. Today you were supposed to listen to your heart and start fighting temptations. We've come a long way in 6 days. These forty days are going to be like mathematics. They will culminate or build on one another. Back row go ahead and get the ice pack for your head now. Explain it to them front row. That's right you have to do each lesson everyday so let's review. We are fixing our hearts. We are not pointing fingers and judging others. We are trying to do healthy things for our bodies like eating right and taking time for ourselves. We are praying for those people that we think negative thoughts about. Last but not least, we are avoiding temptation. Yes back row we still have a field trip this weekend but I will remind you of that later.

Who are you? No, I mean really who are you? That's what we're going to talk about today. Are you authentic? Long ago I had a friend tell me ,"Sarah, you are real." This was probably one of the best compliments I have ever been given. What she meant was that that I am the same person wherever you meet me. She commented that this is rare. I am blessed with many, true friends. Are you? What are true friends? These are the people that love you enough to keep your soul from danger. They call you out when needed. They are there in good times and in bad. I know who I am. I know my strengths and weaknesses. I am far from perfect, but I try everyday to be the best Christian that I can possibly be. Here's the most important thing, I try to be the best person I can be each and every day. I think that's what we are called to do.

Some years back a friend and I were talking and she said "Sarah I feel so terrible about my life." I was baffled! She was beautiful, had a great career, devoted husband, wonderful, beautiful healthy daughter so why was she feeling so terrible? She said, "I look around on Facebook and see how others are so happy. They are doing such great things. They have such great trips; their kids are gorgeous, and I just feel like blah." Students, I want you to think about this. That's right front row, on social media we could be whatever we want to be. This is so dangerous. That's right students, it's not real. Social media has really changed the face of communication. We can put the best bits of ourselves and our lives out there and easily delete the rest. The narcissistic nature of this is so unhealthy. This morning I listened to a video discussing how we are simply observing life. We are snapping our cameras to be sure people see us doing fabulous things. There's nothing wrong with this unless we are not in the moments of our lives. We quickly get in to the game of competition and comparing ourselves. Is the answer to disregard all social media? To completely go away from it? I think the answer is somewhere in the middle. Yes use your social feeds to contact and communicate with family and friends. Use it to put good into the world. Beware if you use it to boost your ego or to create a fake persona. This is where the sin creeps into our lives. Know who you are and what you stand for and then you can begin to be real. God wants you to be you. It's true he loves you just the way you are. And he has created you for a divine purpose.

Homework time! I want you to write down 5 things you like. I want you to write down 5 things that you don't like. Look at your social media. Yes back row you can put down homework as one of your things you don't like. Is it real? Is this really the life that you're living? Are your social platforms positive? Are you putting things out there to help others or just to help yourself? Before you post your next picture or status update think about if it is real? Are you competing with others or genuinely sharing to communicate with others? Are the things that you put out there healthy and positive? Be honest and ask yourself before you push that post button. Can you be real?

Sal the Real Gal

Sarah Anderson Alley

Quote of the day:

Never apologize for what you feel. It's like saying sorry for being real.

Lil Wayne

Be who you are and say what you want, for those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

Dr. Seuss

Best be yourself, imperial, plain and true!

Robert Browning

Ride the energy of your own unique spirit.

Gabrielle Roth

To be natural is such a very difficult pose to keep up.

Oscar Wilde

Wherever you go, go with all your heart.

Confucius

Being yourself is all it takes. If you want to impress someone don't be someone else just be yourself.

Selena Gomez

Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.

Judy Garland

If you cannot be a poet, be the poem.

David Carradine

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life.

Steve Jobs

Follow your inner moonlight; don't hide