The Masks

I've been facilitating a group for the last five weeks that focuses on women discovering themselves, so that they can be better people and better partners within relationships. We've been exploring what we are on this earth to do. We've looked at our likes and dislikes. Most importantly we've looked at the roles we play or masks we wear as a result of the expectations of others. We are looking at them, so we can take them off and become more congruent in our lives. A part of the affirmation we say every week is: 

"I know me, I like me...I show my true self to the world because I am alright."

To show your true self to the world is a really a life long struggle. First, you've got to know you then, you've got to trust you, then you've got to like you, then you've got to trust that other people will like you. Every time you change yourself, you've got to start this process all over again, so that you can live a congruent life.

Blogging is sorta a mask and a revealing of one's self all at once. What I mean is you start writing about yourself, your beliefs, your causes, your rants, and many times we use the keyboard as a mask to show the very best of ourselves. However, the more we type on our own blogs, and comment on others, our true self is revealed. As bloggers we feel elated to know we have followers and commenters because they serve as confirmation that we can trust that people like us.

This past evening I was invited to a Mom's Night Out by Renee Ross over at cutiebootycakes. We went to a Belly Dancing class at Nazeem Allayl Belly Dance Studio , and then for drinks sadly, I was the little piggy who had none and dinner. All the women who were there were bloggers, some Renee knew in real life, some she knew through the blog world. Some I had heard of, and visited, some I met for the first time. I didn't know who would be there.  I heard Mom's Night Out I quickly arranged things, so that I could get out of the house.  At a moment's notice I was out of the house and making my way down to Mom's Night Out. It wasn't until after I had returned home that I began to think that maybe I should have worn a mask. I was my regular loud and  boisterous self. Talking it up here and there. Giving my opinion on everything and anything. I had a blast and the ladies were very friendly and welcoming. There really was no need for me to play a role or to wear a mask, it just kind of hit me later that my blog persona may be different than the real life me, and as a result I should have hidden. I realize something though, Renee's real life personality is very much like her blog personality, so I'm guessing that mine is too. I couldn't hide if I had really wanted to. I know me , I like me...I show my true self to the world because I am alright.

Here's the distrustful clown mask, I've worn this one before. My lack of trust of people has caused me to act a fool a time or two hundred.




This an old European Mask. This look is the ole' "nothing bothers me mask," when underneath there is an eruption waiting to come out.



This one is the "geez, I'm sorry" mask. When really there isn't an ounce of remorse underneath the mask.








Here's the "I'm angry all the time" mask, when it's more like "I'm really hurting under here."