This is a trailer for the new show on MTV called "If You Really Knew Me". It started a few weeks back and "WHEW!" is it a real tear-jerker and very very powerful in my opinion. It focuses around a new high school every week and is about an event called Challenge Day. It's mission statement...
"The Challenge Day mission is to provide youth and their communities with experiential programs that demonstrate the possibility of love and connection through the celebration of diversity, truth, and full expression."
I think the thing that hit me the most was the idea of "living 100%", meaning that most of us go thru our lives only really showing 10% of ourselves, which leaves 90%, or the bulk of who we really are, unrevealed and unexpressed. They use the concept of the iceberg (which I am familar with from training classes).
The concept goes that when we think of an iceberg, we are only really thinking about the "surface" or 10% of the iceberg that we see floating on top of the water. But in reality, there is whole lot more to it, under the "surface", if we just look "deeper".
People need to be seen for who they really are and feel comfortable and safe to truly express themselves 100%. But in a culture where gossip, sarcasm, backbiting and putting down and judging others are seen as "basic conversation" skills - most people put up walls in order to feel safe. They don't feel comfortable being real and the 10% that they show the world will most likely be the least interesting and superficial aspects of themselves.
Imagine a world where we all strived to express 100% of ourselves. A world where we looked beyond "surfaces" to the "deeper" parts of each individual so we were seeing the "whole" person. Where that space for compassion and understanding is always found. Where we never felt alone because there would always be someone there to have our back...sometimes even a stranger. That's a world I would like to live in.
If you really knew me, you would know that the concept of a peaceful and unifed world of true brotherhood and compassion for all is what I strive to help build. If you really knew me, you would know that I enjoy having "real" conversations where I get to truly learn about you and not just that 10% "image" you project to the world. If you really knew me, you would know that I just want to connect to each and every person I come in contact with - human to human, heart to heart.
What would I know if I really knew you?
The utterance of God is a lamp, whose light is these words: Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch. Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony, with friendliness and fellowship. He Who is the Daystar of Truth beareth Me witness! So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth." (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 14)
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7 comments:
If you've met me ... you know me :) I think I strive to live my life in such a way that people KNOW the real me...do they not always see the struggles and work I do? not everyone, but I have those in my life that do. I live what I believe, I walk my talk as it were...and gave up years ago living for what mainstream expected. It is liberating and scary but all around marvelous.!!! great post.
It is funny that you say that, bcuz I was thinking of you when I posted this. Out of all my friends, you are the only one that I know who does put 100% of her out there. I was thinking, "This SOOOO doesn't apply to Aminda"...LOL! That is why I value and cherish you so much. Miss you!
I love the idea of living 100% and having open conversations heart to heart. It seems like it easier for some to do that online...but if you pick up the phone and call them out of concern or a simple hello suddenly things are weird and uncomfortable. The concept of being open and living 100% is great...but I have yet to see it work. As a Christian I have strong beliefs and I hope to live them out load, but not in your face. I have friends and family from all different faiths who I love dearly. Some of us are able to love and accept one another and we are comfortable with one another. Then I have other friends from different faiths who are great online, but cannot cross over face to face. I have to ask myself if it is something I am putting off, or are they just not comfortable because they know my faith. We are all on a journey and I know at the end of the journey we will have full knowledge not just about God but about our true motives...I think there are things I do not know about myself...motives I am not aware of and although I wait in anticipation for those things to be revealed to me...I also have a certain amount of fear about that revelation. I want to live 100%...I want to love 100%...but then I wonder if it is really a possibility.
Very open and honest thoughts Christy. I struggle every day to try and do the same - how do I embrace everyone 100% and love all my neighbors unconditionally and with complete love and compassion?
But I am certain that it is possible, for I have seen it work many times. It is something that has to be worked on, and it can be challenging, but there is no doubt in my mind that it is possible. And when you have that within a circle of friends, family and oftentimes even strangers it really is magical. Some of my favorite moments of life is when that synergy has been acheived. You can feel the presence of God when you are all assembled together.
It is interesting that you find it is easier online, for I have found the opposite to be true. When you are face-to-face with someone, without the barrier of the internet, I feel that is when you can really get to see the light of God in someone, the beauty within them. That isn't as readily apparent to me in words written on a blog, a message board or a Facebook wall.
If you really knew me, you would know that I become frustrated when I'm only looked at and not talked to. Someone see's blonde hair, blue eyes, a female that tries to maintain the shell that God provided her with to live in here on earth and many assume that I would be a little high maintenance and the typical "girly girl".... SO far from who I am! If you really knew me you would find out that I have a passion for people in general regardless of race, preference, background, and history - I look for the "good" in everyone and in all situations. Something just draws me to differences in people - I suppose that's just the kind of heart that God blessed me with. And if you REALLY REALLY knew me, you'd know that my future dreams don't include big houses or fancy cars or extravagant shopping sprees, but include getting rid of a lot of material possessions so that I can be free to go where God calls me to go as a missionary, once my son graduates high school and starts laying the foundation of his own future.
I have had many challenges in 37.5 years and don't regret any bit of those challenges. Some say they wish they had a "do over" button... but I say my challenges have made me who I am and that I should share those moments, those mistakes, those achievements as a way to help pick someone up when they fall... because we all fall.
If you really knew me, you'd know that I simply want to serve the world with love, kindness and compassion... 100%
LOVE this blog Justin!
Beautiful post Janet and thanks for your kudos on the blog! I have got to go to bed right now, but I will write a more thorough response soon. Goodnight!
Janet, I am totally on the same board with you on your passions and dreams. The more diversity of friends that I have the happier that I am. Diversity of race, culture, thought, age - the more the better. That is the beauty of the world.
And my future dreams are similar as well. I have more than what I need already and I hope to be able to give my time and energy in the future to serve the Faith that I adhere to. I would love to go overseas and spread the love!
So glad we are friends on here even though we never officially "met". ;-)
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