Backside of the Stitch
Kyetu Catalyst. A spark to ignite change!
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When Michelle was a child, her grandma taught her to sew. Her grandma would always say that when you sewed something, the handiwork on the inside had to be as neat as the handiwork on the outside. Meaning, if you were to turn the garment inside out, the stitch would be as clean, straight, and beautiful as the stitch visible on the outside.
It was quite the challenge for her at the tender age of eight. Because the backside of the stitch is a blind process. You guide it from right to left, creating a loop, but you're guiding from the front, and you can only occasionally peek behind to check. There's always this unveiling moment when you've reached the edge of your hemline, and you turn it around to see if you succeeded in matching the stitch, its cleanliness, and its distance from the edge.
At Kyetu, we love this story! It’s a beautiful analogy that can be applied to personal growth and human development. Have you ever heard someone say, 'Go inside to find your truth!’? Living authentically takes effort and work; it's not always obvious or easy. Sometimes, you feel blinded by the process to be genuine and true to yourself.
While you are defining who you are, and what you want, you will want to align your proverbial stitch. That is, make sure the real you, as in, the backside of the stitch, is in alignment with the visible stitch, on the outside. When it is, you’ve reached integrity, and you are being authentic.
Whenever you're struggling, or feeling misaligned, ask yourself, 'What does the stitch look like on the other side?' Invite yourself to go inside out. Would you be willing to wear the backside of the stitch and show it outwards?
That's the challenge. For today's Kyetu Catalyst, ask yourself if you're proud of the quality of the person you are showing the world. If not, ask yourself why. Then ask 'why' again, five times, to get to the root cause. Then, take action.
What's one small step you can do today to feel more authentic, to live your own life with integrity?
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Kyetu. Who do you think you are?
