“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”
-Dr. Seuss

Greetings my nearest and dearest on this sun-filled Sunday afternoon! With an inspirited heart today, I bring you this new blog entry inspired by the recent bravery and courage of Bruce Jenner. The highly anticipated Bruce Jenner interview with Diane Sawyer was two hours of truly riveting television, and Bruce very openly and fearlessly discussed his lifelong struggle with his gender identity. Being who you are and your true self can sometimes be the most difficult thing to do in life, and from my little place in the universe in Sherman Oaks, I applaud Jenner for accepting who he says he is on the inside, saying it, and potentially soon revealing that person to the world. In my humble opinion, Jenner sharing his story was not only a way to dispel rumors and publicly announce his courageous decision, but it serves as a reminder that for anyone who is afraid to be themselves, there is hope, acceptance, and love awaiting you. It may take some of us our entire lives to know who our authentic self actually is, but for those who find it, the beautiful reward is a life filled with truth, which can undoubtedly set a person free.

In addition to Bruce Jenner’s bravery in discussing who he truly is, the other inspriring thing I will carry with me from his TV special is the love of his older children who were interviewed. They boldly told the world that though it was not easy, they were proud of their father and only wanted him to be happy, and it seemed clear they loved him regardless of his revelation. The choice to love someone completely and unconditionally regardless of who they are or who they love is not always easy, but I think it can be one of the most rewarding kinds of love anyone can experience in their life. I tip my proverbial hat to Bruce Jenner for sharing his gender journey, but I also do the same for those in his life who have opted to speak out and love him for who he feels he genuinely is.

I of course know Bruce Jenner is merely one person among thousands or possibly millions who are grappling with who they are, but for those who might be dealing with this, be brave and embrace who you are. The ones who genuinely care for you will love you with an open heart, and loving yourself for who you are will be a kind of happy we can all only hope for. So I encourage everyone to accept those who are different and love freely. As we all know, the heart is one of the most important muscles we have, so give it the workout it deserves!