masquerade

You have to interact with others. Sometimes you even need it, crave it. But things and events occur that makes you vulnerable to being hurt. And spot on, the unthinkable happens. And you almost never see it coming. But that's because we are all ruled by our emotions. Don't underestimate that fact. Recently, someone reminded me that we even secretly desire to have the drama of it all in our life occasionally. So true.

In olden days, masquerade balls were elaborate parties. Social events of a different kind. The highlight was guessing the person behind the mask. Intricate, ostentatious masks adorned the faces of socialites and elitist folk for that one special night when inhibitions were cast aside, ostensibly to make it harder for others to guess correctly who you are. Or so the plan was supposed to go. But once your fears are overcome, you find out who you truly are, which may be exactly how you have been behaving all along. Which is scarier, to know you are someone else, or that you are just boring old you?

Some people put on their mask everyday. It is so normal that you don't even realise it anymore. You put on a mask to protect yourself. To hide the real you, in the hopes that you are finally disconnected from the hurtful realities of life. I can't say for sure why some put on masks, but it would be for some form of self-preservation. But I think this is a practice that will actually hurt you in the long run.

When you mask yourself everyday, you slowly lose your identity. All your personal traits slowly mutate to fit your mask. And because you wear your mask to the outside world, and that can be (conservatively) 12 hours a day, it is exhausting. It is an unconscious and powerful trait that you are in danger of falling into. Ultimately, neither you nor your friends know who you really are. And that is the sad part.

Another aspect of this is that you may be also drawn to others with the same problems. Also. the very reason you wore your mask in the first place has been lost. And it was because of you, not someone else. The irony of it all should not escape you. Never underestimate your sub-conscious.

We are all beautiful inside, we all have special qualities that call out to those who appreciate who we are. Being different is something bad? Absolutely not. It is what makes us unique. For goodness sake, it even makes you one of a kind; people pay millions for a one of a kind creation. Don't you want to know what yours are, and let them shine? I know I'm different. I have been made to feel different my whole life. I have carried the pain of not being one of the group. Story of my life. But now I embrace it, and enjoy the realisation of who I am. There are those who have accepted me for who I am, and I am eternally grateful for that simple kindness to me.

I go back to the very basic view of life being far too short to waste it on insincerity. But if you continue wearing your mask, you will lose the one simple treasure in life that matters; who you are, and what you are truly capable of.

You also have to remember the origins of the masquerade. It was all very fancy. Festive and romantic, it had an air of curiousity and playfulness. And the objective of the ball? To discover the person behind the mask.

The sooner you shed your mask, the sooner you will realise the individual inside you and finally live without fear. It's actually very liberating. And you will enjoy a better quality of life, knwoing in your heart that those around you like you for who you really are. I know its hard to stop something you're so used to doing on an everyday basis. I guess the first thing for you to do is to stop and think if this is really who you want to be.