Freak Flag

I had a discussion today with a person about letting our "freak flag fly."  I remember hearing Drew Barrymore (who I love) say that we should all do this.  I thought she had come up with this term; however, I knew I had heard it somewhere and here is where:

Almost cut my hair
It happened just the other day
It's gettin' kind of long
I could've said it was in my way

But I didn't and I wonder why
I feel like letting my freak flag fly
And I feel like I owe it, to someone

Must be because I had the flu for Christmas
And I'm not feeling up to par
It increases my paranoia
Like looking in my mirror and seeing a police car

But I'm not giving in an inch to fear
çause I've promised myself this year
I feel like I owe it, to someone

When I finally get myself together
I'm gonna get down in that sunny southern weather

And I'm goin' to find a space inside to laugh,
Separate the wheat from the chaff
I feel ...
Like I owe it, to someone, yeah

Neil Young

So, I watched a movie where the male character said to the uptight female that she "had a freak flag, but wasn't letting it fly."

I love that!  How empowering is that! 

My friend said it's hard to be ourselves - it takes much effort and is tiring. It is.  But, it is because we have been socialized to be who/what we aren't.  We learn early on that we might not be liked if we show our true selves, so we adopt these personas. And, those are much easier to keep up.  When we reach a certain age and finally think, "I don't want to be who I'm not" any longer, it is a hard road to find ourselves and be authentic.  So, ironically, it becomes more difficult to be who we are instead of who we created.

Hmmm....think about that!  How do we change this dynamic?  How does it become more comfortable to be who we are instead of who we created? 

My thoughts?  Spiritual practice...always...is the key.   Go into your mediation with this question present. 

Let me know what comes up for you...

Namaste,

Sheila