I'm not that girl

Who the Wicked Witch of the West really was in her life--somebody who stood up for the weak. 

(From the musical, Wicked.)

When Elphaba from the Wicked musical sings I'm not that girl, she sings of the guy she loves who doesn't love her back--he chose another girl, hence the title of the song.

But this post is not about love lost. It's a new year, so here's something to think about: do you have integrity in your life? It's easy to assume that integrity is only important when you run for public office, but in truth it's a virtue for everyone.

For example, are you the same girl when you're with your family as with your friends? Do you hear mass on Sundays and then live your faith by trying to grow in patience and love everyday? 

When it comes to relationships, the same integrity is required, too! Showing affection to your special someone is a normal thing: holding hands, giving a handmade present, walking side by side... these are all fine. Then there are other ways of showing affection that may go out of hand, if you forget yourself. Giving him a kiss can be harmless, but if you don't put much stock in what must be respected, then it can lead to something else.

What people thought she was: an ugly, horrible woman who gets little dogs too. 

(The Wizard of Oz, 1939.) 

You can have integrity in your love life by living by one rule: anything you do when it's just the two of you should be something you can do when your whole family is around you! After all, if you want to please the Parent Who Loves You No Matter What, then you can start by considering how your own actions please or displease your own natural parents.

You want integrity because you only want to be you, or at least make every day a step closer to the you you hope to be. So that, in the end, you don't look back and think, "I'm not that girl."

"Integrity is doing the right thing, even if nobody is watching."-Annonymous