Recently, a friend and client told me that I lived an authentic life. She said to continue living that way over anything else because I would be happiest in the long term. I liked the sound of that but I was curious to know exactly what living authentically meant… so I looked it up and read the following:

Live Authentically – Living from the core of who you are for lasting satisfaction.

I didn’t need to read my further. I found exactly what I was looking for.

Recently Neil and I were invited to a Christmas party. I was asked to bring an appetizer?! An appetizer… really… me? True confession Neil and I are very ordinary folk. We chill with ordinary people. We do ordinary things. We eat out of dirty dishes, rarely wash our hands and truth be told occasionally Neil picks his nose. We don’t eat appetizers. The thought of bringing an appetizer freaks me out; this course is totally off my radar. We arrived at the party to be greeted by a beautiful table of swanky meat, cheese, fruit etc on beautiful marching china. We roll in with a Christmas tree shaped plate with dip assembled atop it. I felt like the 80’s comeback kid. Its not like I brought green coleslaw or a store bought dessert, my dip looked effin awesome, yet I felt very embarrassed of my juvenile appetizer.

This feeling of embarassment was totally a head game. The host and guests did not pass judgement. I allowed my insecurity effect my authenticity. I encourage you to live an authentic life. Because after all isn’t lasting satisfaction what we are all after? Do not allow insecuritues to cast shadow on your true self.

Greek Dip:

1 container store bought hummus

Cilantro pesto (1 cup cilantro, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup walnuts, 2 tbsp minced garlic – blended)

1/2 cup chopped cucumber

1/4 cup artichoke hearts

1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes

2 tbp chopped olives

2 oz fat free feta cheese

Directions:

Assemble all ingredients in layers. Serve with pita chips, rice chips etc.

 

With love from the Trench kitchen,

xoErika♥