She walked across the street, towards us, with a smile on her face. It was a neighbor I’d never seen before.

She cheerfully said “Hello”, followed by “they’re beautiful.”

I wasn’t caught off-guard until she said her next comment, “and I can see they’re regular.”

You see, Georgie had just done his business on a lawn and we were stopped so that I could make sure we didn’t leave a gift behind.

Yes, this wonderful stranger had not only complimented me on my ‘beautiful’ two dogs, but also one’s bowel movement.

I chuckled to myself and thought, “Who says that?!?”

Without anything more than another smile, she walked off to greet her friend sitting on a nearby porch. And we continued on with our afternoon stroll.

As I thought again about her comment, I laughed – out loud, to myself and my dogs.

And then I reflected on how this community elder didn’t censor herself at all in her comments.

How odd it is that we develop this period of self-censorship for about 50-60 years of our life.

When we’re young, we say whatever comes to mind, being curious and inquisitive, thirsting to learn about life.

And, as I’ve seen with my older relatives, who have gotten to an age where they just don’t have the care or maybe it’s the energy to worry about what others will think, much like my new neighbor-friend.

But what happens during this large middle period where we are so concerned about what others will think that we forget how to be ourselves, think our own thoughts, say our own words?

It shows up in business, where you hesitate to give your opinion on a new ad campaign because they’re experts and you’re just the assistant.

It shows up on a date, where you become a shell of yourself in order to impress the potential new romantic partner.

It shows up in families, where we don’t feel supported by those that have known us longest so we hide behind a facade of who we think they want us to be.

In fact, I almost did it in here with this post, where yes, I talk about my dog’s bathroom habits.

But I need to tell you something – this type of self-censorship to gain the approval of others is such A. TIME. WASTER.

Because other people’s opinions of us are none of our business.

And pretending to be someone you are not, just so that you can land the right client, takes more time and energy than you are realizing.

Has it even become your new part-time gig?

Take back your time, your focus, your energy, your magnetic self.

Set the intention to show up as 100% You each day, every day.

I’m cheering you on the entire way.

Have you noticed a time when not being the true YOU has wasted time and energy? How did you change the situation in your life? Tell me about it below.