Masquerade

    Masks. Hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds. All lined up in neat little rows, ready to go on in a moment's notice. The alarm clock rings. The Masquerade begins. Who knows what masks I will need today? What I do know is that I need them. Every single one of them. Anything could happen.
    I know this is a ominous start to my post, but this second to last post is a thing that I have considered for many years, and I want the mood to feel a little dark. Of course, the masquerade is symbolic. Symbolic of Life. Each mask is a symbol of how you interact and act like around each person or circumstance.
    Imagine a masquerade with hundreds of people in it. Now imagine that for each one you put on a different mask. This is very similar to life. We interact with people, places, and things constantly, and our attitude and outlook changes. For example if you are playing video games, you are happier and brighter than when you are doing your math homework.
    A person interacts with other persons around him/her in different ways. The way you talk to Johnny is different from how you talk to Suzie. Every single person you know has a mask in your mind. When you meet that person and interact with them, you slip your mask on and dance your dance.
    Of course, this is because of human nature, and because everybody is different and unique, but while this is true there is a very real danger of losing the self. You can be caught up so much in being popular that you don't ever take your mask off. All you can think about is the next mask, the next person, the next social event. Masks can also lead to an opposite effect, where the person remains silent inside a special quiet mask that prevents them from dancing with others.
    Being yourself is a very hard thing to do. Showing your real face, and being proud to do it is an immense accomplishment that nobody fully accomplishes in this life. It is a striving which requires effort from all fronts, whether it be physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, or any other aspect of humanity. There are certain times of peace for everybody, though, when they slip off the mask for a bit. When you decide to do something strange, or thy something new, you step out of the comfort of the mask.
    Doing such things requires great courage. Courage that does not come easily to any one human. I often do not acquire the courage to be myself, which always hurts me in the long run. We must be willing to get burned. Being yourself is like cooking over a fire. You may get burned, but in the long run it's worth it.
     I hope to be myself more than I have before. I want to be more accepting and open to those who really need help, and most especially accepting and open to myself. We all need to gain self-esteem. Life without a mask is much better for everyone. It is worth it to try.