Page 6 - BEQ Magazine Iss 21 rev01072022

WIDENING THE LENS

You Do You Boo

and other Fearless Feats and Failures at being Authentic

By EDUARDO PLACER | Photos by NICK ONKEN

The tour trunk is packed with paper birthday It has been over 7 years since I was graced with this
hats, festive bunting and swords. My tour partner lesson, and as a small business owner, international
and I have just finished a 30 minute potpourri of speaker, and public speaking coach I often come back
Shakespeare scenes celebrating the Bard’s 450th to this moment. Especially because there is so much
birthday. We’re ready to leave this Tacoma, Washing- buzz around the word AUTHENTICITY. BE AUTHEN-
ton high school when a young student approaches TIC is tossed around like a trite hallmark greeting. As
me and says, if authenticity is something easy, accessible and can
“I heard you sing in the show. Nice. Sing us a be purchased at your local Target for $2.99.
song.” My authenticity, a divine combo platter of Paul
Immediately I freeze. Even though I’m deep in Lind and Charo, while appearing easy and joyful, is
my 30s, the question stimulates my middle school actually sourced from deep pain. A pain that origi-
anxiety. My mind starts racing with any song that nates from the wounds of both external and inter-
could be relevant in this moment . . . One Direction . . nalized homophobia. And as the Instagram feeds
. Taylor Swift . . . Depeche Mode. The truth is the only and Clubhouse chat rooms filled with chatter and
EDUARDO
PLACER, song I know all the lyrics to is “How Do You Solve A advice to be more authentic, something doesn’t sit
storyteller, speaker Problem Like Maria” from The Sound of Music. I’m at right with me. What does this word really mean, and
and founder a loss and offer, “That is very sweet. The truth is, I why is there still such a personal and professional
of Fearless only know the words to show tunes.” struggle with being authentic?
Communicators Without skipping a beat she offers, “You do you As a lover of language, I often begin with the
boo boo.” etymology or the origin of words. Thanks to ety-
And there it is. A gentle and loving reminder from monline.com, I learn that we can piece together
this ninth-grader, to just do me. an ancient definition from the following: autos

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