But I love that you are you on your blog. That way, when I’m particularly missing you, I have a place I can instantaneously visit you.

I think I’ll leave it to readers, like you, Steph and others to decide if what they see/read, is what they get when they meet me. Hopefully, I wouldn’t be disappointed at the answers.

I do have a “secret blog” where I talk about my adoptee issues and it is surprising how different I am there. I think my inner child is raging a bit at times.
But in both cases, it’s been helpful for me to see those sides of myself.
Does that make sense?

By and large, what you see/read is what you get with me in person.

Since my blog isn’t anonymous, there is a short list of items and details I steer clear of writing about per the request of family and friends. I have no business sharing the details of someone else’s life if they’re not comfortable with it. But my blog is mostly about me and my perspective anyway.

It has helped me to have my friends and family reading my blog. I feel confident that they’d call bull shit if they saw it there. In fact, I think my blog has helped me to find my authentic self. Particularly in the beginning, I’d start to write something, then think about who would read it and I’d ask, “Why can I write this down and publish it for anyone on the internet to see, but I’m reluctant to talk about it with people in my everyday life?” It helped me get more comfortable with me. And there were some friendships I watched blossom as I was willing to share more of who I am. I didn’t realize I was so guarded before I started to blog. Like Lawyer Mama and Mme.meow pointed out, it’s a process. I don’t think I’ve achieved anything yet – you won’t see too many full body shots of me on my blog because I’m still in denial about my big old butt – but I like to think I’m moving toward something.

Congratulations on your own perfect posts. You are *truly* one of the most authentic people I’ve ever met.

xoxo