We all think we’re being real—whether in public or in private—but the deeper challenge is questioning whether we truly know our real selves at all. In any case, even when we know ourselves we might face various pressures that push us to fit in or not cause trouble – so even the most well-intentioned person might struggle to always be 100% real in public. Sometimes the simplest questions are actually the most complex. Thankfully, we have some wonderful members of the community who offered to share their thoughts on this challenging question.
Adam Bates
I would like to believe that the public version of me is the real me, though I know that truth is rarely so simple. We all carry many versions of ourselves — the one the world sees, the one we show to those closest to us, and the one we quietly wrestle with when no one is watching. Sometimes they align; sometimes they drift apart. Read more>>
Soliman Elgammal
No—it’s only a close version of the real me, the real me is not defined, not limited. People who know me well, know that I can be anything at anytime that I want. Most people think that I’m that nerdy person… that calm guy that you rarely hear about… that guy that you always hear about. Read more>>
Rachel Eisenstat
It seems trite now, but when I was almost 30, I thought my time as a musician was pretty much up. My band had just broken up, and I was really exhausted from working a full time day job while gigging, writing, recording, and trying to promote my music on top of a career. Read more>>
