Crystal
Facade
After school today I drove to our book store, to pick up a few selected readings I've been meaning to look into. The books were "Heart of Darkness" and "The Prince" (told you I'd check them out, Irvine *g*). I picked them up and waited very patiently for the woman to get to the register, and gave her a sunny thank-you when the books were paid for. She looked at me a little oddly- perhaps my selections weren't quite lining up with my demeanor ;)
It got me thinking on the way home about the faces we put on for our everyday lives. Everyone has a face.. many of us have multiple faces. Frankly, I'm not against them. I found out long ago that people respond much better to you if you can muster up a little smile and a pleasant word. Some would call this just common decency, but it can also become a strategy. Simply put, you catch more flies with honey then with vinegar.
Masks can be helpful for other means, as well. A friend of mine wears nothing but black t-shirts and torn jeans, leather and metal. He looks threatening when he has it on, but anyone who knows him understands he'd never hurt a fly. He finds that dressing that way, and acting a certain way, make other people stay clear of him.. and that's what he wants.
The problem comes in when we let our faces fool not only those around us, but ourselves. When our life is a lie, we're bound to start believing it sooner or later. And, if we're too busy wrapped up in our own, incorrect self-image, we may be too distracted to see another pleasant facade headed our way. Know yourself, even if others don't know you.
Crystal