Authentic is a word that is being thrown out there, left right and centre. What does it mean? Be Authentic. Does it mean, look in a mirror and be yourself? Does it mean accept your environment as a major influencer and succumb to your existence within it? Does it mean, be joyful, happy, motivated…blah blah blah…what?  
Run a search for the definition of authentic, this is what Google renders:

Probability says you have a better chance of finding authenticity in the context of music, and you probably don’t even know it. Thus it is especially important when thinking about authenticity that we consider context so that we may reconcile against that which is “of undisputed origin, genuine”.

The moment you step into the education system these days, any sense or possibility of authenticity, scratch it out. Remember, the education system has evolved into a zero tolerance environment; the sandbox no longer exists. At least in North America this is true, unfortunately for the right reasons (violence, safety, etc.).  

Everybody is in it for themselves and that exactly means what it means, zero tolerance for anything other than your perception of what is correct. It seems like the only way for correct to be perceived these days is a cultural stale mate, of which the economic cost is that of authenticity, because if everything is the same, what else do I need?

I’ll take and settle for different, in peace and joy.

Michael