I think Carrie Underwood got it right.

You can pretty lie and say it’s okay.

You can pretty smile and just walk away.

Pretty much fake your way through anything.

But you can’t cry pretty.

For every person who has sat with me the past 15 months as I ugly cried, thank you.

About 15 years ago, I worked through some things that prompted me to ruthlessly commit to a life of authenticity. I have not regretted that choice, which, in reality, is a series of choices stretching through today and into tomorrows. Authenticity never sets aside compassion and respect for others. It is not self-centered. Authenticity must reside in community. When lived well, it is mutually beneficial. It infuses truth and love.

And we all need it.

I am thankful for the difficult process into authenticity.

I am thankful for the years of practice when crisis hit hard.

It would have been easy to hide or mask.

I am thankful for friends who invite me into authenticity, even demand if of me, and trust me with their authenticity.

Authenticity might feel ugly, because it’s difficult, but in the long run, it becomes beautiful.