Olivia writes on the value of authenticity and why it matters in an ever changing world.
"Something I have also realised is that what society teaches us to be fulfilment, actually isn’t. Busy doesn’t equal productive. Real success isn’t measured in things. But this is where things get fun, as it’s empowering and confronting all at once. Once we strip back all our traditional, societal learnings, what are we left with?"
We definitely do grow finer with age. We have so much to learn from our elders. Part of growing up is also realizing, maybe we don’t know everything after all. And that the best is yet to come.
I have had to unlearn so much I thought to be true, in order to learn it again. What I thought was important, turned out not to be. Who I thought I was, wasn’t, again and again. Things I thought I wanted, I got and then realized actually felt quite different. Things, success, places and people. Or rather, it didn’t give me the feeling I thought it would. Part of my journey so far has been realizing that there is nothing that exists externally that will change how I sit with myself. That is completely up to me, and that acceptance all begins to beautifully fall into place with grace and… age.
‘Wherever you go there you are.’
Something I have also realized is that what society teaches us to be fulfillment, actually isn’t. Busy doesn’t equal productive. Real success isn’t measured in things. But this is where things get fun, as it’s empowering and confronting all at once. Once we strip back all our traditional, societal learnings, what are we left with? We can do whatever like. Things that are truly important, the intangible things that we can’t see, really are the things that matter. Our energy, relationships, the way we make people feel, our connections, nature and community. Connecting with things authentically and telling the truth is a real currency. And I love that our generation isn’t afraid to be blunt about this. I believe transparency is the way of the future.
I think what we often crave from life is more intimacy and real conversation. We must be honest with ourselves as a starting point, before asking this of someone else too. With the world being flipped on its head these past few years, everything we thought was safe has changed, and we have no choice but to see ourselves from a new (and more vulnerable) place. What is truly important now? We have learned that we can survive uncertainty, change and loss. We are still here, but what do we know to be true? People are our most valuable resource. Our connections, communities and positive impact are remembered.
The best gift we can offer ourselves is authenticity and we give people an opportunity to meet us there. From there, smile at the stranger, pick up the rubbish on the sidewalk, let people in line before you, hug your friends tighter, say what you really want to say. Connectedness creates ripples, and real change.
Written by Olivia Scott
free shipping within new zealand
