Raka, my nephew, a two – year old boy who helped me to understand better, what does it mean by being authentic. This post is for you, Rakadut!

Every Monday whenever I am around in Salatiga, it will be an ice cream day for Raka. However, last Monday was a bit different, this time he showed me how to be ‘just who you are’. This time, it was not just an ordinary ice cream day.

We went to Anak Panah Kopi Salatiga right after his class. As always, I ordered his favorite Vanilla ice cream and french fries. Look at the way he enjoyed the treat!

Right after his ice cream and french fries time, there were two kindergarten girls heading to the tree house, close to where we sat. Raka left his ice cream and follow them, thinking to play with them.
As you can expect, they were just ignored Raka. Whenever Raka got closer to them, they went away.
But Raka remained cheerful, playful and joyful! He was still playing around.

Another kindergarten boy came. I thought maybe because the same sex, the boy easily blend in with Raka. Then they played with the foam and creating snow. The girls joined the wagon, but they poured over the foam on Raka. Raka, thinking that now he has more friends, was more enthusiastically playing with them. That happened during noon.

Another cafe thing we visited at night on the same day. Raka found bigger friends and chased after them so he could play together. Again, they ran away from him! 😂
This time, Raka didn’t give up, whenever they were close, he would chase after. Running, shouting, giggling, not only he was full of energy but also he was full of joy. Until after some time, the big boy smiled to Raka.

Once we were about to go hoe, he was still joyfully walking and nodding his head to the rhythm of the cafe music toward the car. He was happy.

Surely he doesn’t understand what being ignore means. Yet, I chose to have this kind point of view. (After all, life is about choosing). Let me tell you my point of view, ceteris paribus.

Knowing the feeling of being ignored is indeed challenging. What comes after that is the feeling of rejection, or maybe simply not fit in. Yet we know that being authentic can help to reduce those rejection feeling.

What does it mean by being authentic ?
Being authentic means true to your own personality, values, and spirit, regardless of the pressure that you’re under to act otherwise.

The rejection and being ignored should not hinder us from being our true self. By being true to ourselves it will help us not to easily please people. Because pleasing people reducing our authenticity. And far more, we will lose ourselves. Not knowing who we really are anymore.

No matter what the situation is, remain joyful, remain true to yourself, remain grateful, others thing will definitely follow.

Allow me to quote one phrase
“Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
It is true that from the way they are, we can learn a lot from little children.

So, thanks to you Raka.
I will not be easily bothered whenever those adults do not reply my messages in wag anymore. lol

This reminds me of the term brought by Vishen Lakhiani in one of his books : UNF*CKWITHABLE. It carries the meaning as folkows : ‘When you’re truly at peace and in touch with yourself and nothing anyone says or does bothers you, and no negativity or drama can touch you’

To go a bit further to be unf*ckwithable and be more authentic, the first thing to do is forgiveness. Not only to forgive others but also to forgive ourselves. Mistakes that we did don’t have to define us.

Remember to be kind to yourself, be kinder. Take a slower pace so you can allow your forgiveness skills to be better everytime,

Be authentic, be you. – cause others are taken.

Much, much love

Miss Yiyis