Masks. They aren’t just for Halloween, Purim, or some other fancy mystery party. They aren’t just for those who step onto a stage for a living (or a hobby). We wear them every day and sometimes into the night. Some of us never take them off. Men. Women. Even, I’m sad to say, some children. Yes, children.
We wear masks of happiness to hide the deep pain within.
We wear masks of determination lest someone see our fear of failure.
We wear masks of friendship while we ooze from the wounds of falsehoods.
We wear masks of comfort no matter that they make us break out in the rashes of life.
We wear masks of success when we haven’t a penny or an hour to spare for someone in need.
We wear masks of joy when tears stain the fabric of our lives from many angles.
We wear masks of loneliness when we are surrounded by those who care.
We wear masks of caring when we are too tired to bother.
We wear masks of “All is well” when our souls are crying out for healing.
We wear masks of energy when our spirits have taken a long vacation.
We wear masks lest someone, anyone, especially those closest to us, see whom we really are.
We wear masks lest we see, for ourselves, whom we’ve become.
We wear masks of light to hide the darkness and masks of darkness to hide the light.
We wear masks of strength when we feel we cannot lift our eyelids to the sun of another day.
We wear masks of faith and hope when we feel hopeless and lost.
We wear masks. In fact, if you think about the heroes you see on T.V., on stage, in the movies…how many of them wear masks? How many of them have something, or many things, to hide? How many of you, Heroes, look in the mirror and aren’t sure who looks back at you each day? How many of you would like to trade in some, or all, of your masks for new ones? Or for none at all? You are not alone, my Heroes.
Sometimes, we NEED our masks, though. They give us strength to face a new day when we’ve been crushed by life. They make us laugh when we want to cry. They bring us peace when we are raging within. They can give us a start, a step, a moment to breathe when we need it the most. Yes, masks have a purpose most valuable to human lives. Don’t fear your masks. Embrace your masks. Perhaps not ALL of them. Perhaps, some of them can be recycled, repurposed, renewed. Some of them, well, yes, they might need to just be burned at some point. Yes, some of them you NEED to let go of and fast.
As Heroes, (remember, you are ALL Heroes) what is more important than the masks you wear is knowing when to take them off and when to put them on. It is knowing how to help others manage their masks and to help them understand the power of choice, the power of the raw beauty and strength they have within. Heroes, when you start to become more aware of the masks, and when you begin to believe that what lies beneath and within can and does change lives, you will find you don’t need the masks as often. You will, one day, look into that mirror and you WILL know the HERO that looks back at you. Your Hero Mask is one that, someday, will hang on the wall of life’s journey where you can see it and know the Hero you really are.
Until that day comes, come, sit with us, on the floor of a colorful, textured life. Gathered around you are many, many materials from all over the world. Share with us what will be on YOUR Hero mask and why? What pieces of your life’s fascinating, ever-changing puzzle will you glue on to remind you of whom you are.
What colors? What images? What textures? What emotions? What actions?
Share your thoughts in the comments below. Share your masks. Do you have a favorite? Do you have ones you’d like to get rid of but don’t know how? Share them here. It’s a start, my Heroes, and a start is always a good thing.
You are loved~
Lora Ackermann, Masked Hero Trainer