The Masks

Look at all the people wearing mask. Not a traditional mask, but a facade hiding who they truly really are. A personality over a personality. In my experience, most people mask who they are to fit in with "normal" society or to protect themselves from it, but not all. The mask they present to society gives them the substance, security, confidence, gravity and/or likability to navigate a social construct with parameters set by the very people wearing falsehoods to demonstrate what it means to be "normal." To break it down further, fake people built a fake society to set rules of what's "normal" and not "normal," and the only way to succeed in this society is to be fake. Now, that sounds like the real Matrix.

To be honest, I'm guilty of wearing a mask throughout a period of my life. I was a child being bullied on a day to day basis. I was intimidated and insulted, and I was never taught how to defend myself. But, that all changed one day while attending my 7th grade gym class. I was being teased per usual. As this person was talking, something in my brain just clicked. All of their flaws started to jump out at me, and I let them have it. All of the pain that I had built up was spewing out in rage. I didn't even remember what I said moments after the words left my lips. All I remember is a friend telling me to stop because they person was crying. I was so furious that I hadn't noticed. So, I stopped. Looking back, that was the day I got my mask. It gave me strength and security. It was my protector. From that day onward, the bullied became the bully. Everytime I looked at someone, I could only see their flaws, and I would make them known. I came to be known as "The Critic." Oddly enough, people gravitated towards me for it, some for protection, others for entertainment. Up until almost a year ago, I had no idea I was even wearing a mask. Self-reflection made me aware of this after my last relationship ended. I have since taken it off.

Take a moment, and look at yourself in the mirror. Ask yourself, "Who am I really?" Once you figure it out, ask yourself, "Do I show my true self to society, or am I just wearing a mask?" Maybe, just maybe if we all take off our masks, we may find a commonality with one another which will cause the walls we built to crumble.

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#TakeOffYourMask