Breaking the Strawberry Lens

Have you ever realized that you’ve been taught how to see the world—even before you knew what you were looking at? Most of us don’t notice it until much later. We're born into a world with invisible rules and beliefs, handed to us without our permission. It’s like someone put a pair of colored glasses over our eyes the moment we were born—strawberry-colored ones.

These lenses aren't cute or sweet, even if they look that way. They’re made of lies. They change the way we see everything—ourselves, others, power, beauty, money, and even love.

What the World Teaches Us

From the start, we're taught certain things that seem normal, but they aren’t. For example, boys are often told to lead, to be strong and in control. Girls? We're told to be quiet, pretty, and polite. Boys wear suits. Girls wear lipstick. That’s the story we’re fed. And most of us believe it, because we see it everywhere—in movies, magazines, schoolbooks, and even in our homes.

We’re told men are powerful, and women are emotional. That a woman’s biggest job is to be a mother, and if she doesn’t want that, she’s selfish or broken. We’re told to be skinny to be loved, to follow beauty trends to fit in. And when something bad happens, we’re told it’s our fault for not being careful enough.

The Lies About Race and Money

It doesn’t stop with gender. The lenses also show us a world divided by skin color. We’re taught—without words sometimes—that white is better. That people of color are “different.” That separation is just “natural.” But none of that is true. That’s the lens talking, not real life.

Money is another lie. We’re made to think rich people are better, smarter, more deserving. We praise people in fancy suits and big houses, but ignore those working hard with nothing to show for it. We’re taught that success is money, and money means happiness. But is that really wealth?

Here’s the truth: many of us had what really matters all along—love, food, family, safety. That’s real wealth. Not a brand-new car or a designer bag. Not something you can post on Instagram.

The Cracks Start to Show

But here’s the good news: one day, the lens starts to crack. Maybe you hear a story. Maybe you live through something unfair. Maybe you just start asking questions.

Why do women get judged more for what they wear? Why do they pay more for basic things? Why do they feel unsafe walking alone at night, while men don’t even think about it?

Why are people of color still fighting for fair treatment? Why do they get followed in stores or treated differently in schools and jobs?

Why is it hard for people to say no—and harder for others to accept that no?

Why do we praise working long hours and call it “hard work,” while forgetting rest, peace, and connection?

All these cracks in the lens reveal something: the world isn’t fair. And it was never meant to be—not with these lenses on.

Letting Go of the Lies

Once you start seeing the cracks, you can’t unsee them. The shiny pink gloss disappears, and what’s left is the truth: a system built on lies, shame, control, and fear. Women are told to shrink themselves to be accepted. People of color are held back by systems they didn’t create. Poor people are blamed for their struggles. And all of us are chasing a dream that isn’t real.

It’s painful to realize this. You might grieve the years you stayed quiet. The times you thought your pain was your fault. The moments you looked in the mirror and hated what you saw—because the lens told you to.

But it’s also freeing. Because once you know the truth, you can start to live differently.

You’re Not a Fool

We’ve all been fooled at some point. But that doesn’t mean we have to stay that way. You’re not a fool, and neither am I. We can take the lenses off. We can choose to see clearly.

We can stop believing that a number on a scale decides our worth. We can stop letting society tell us who we’re supposed to be. We can speak up, question what’s “normal,” and build something better.

So next time someone hands you a new pair of strawberry-tinted glasses, smile—and toss them aside.

Because real beauty, real power, and real love don’t need filters.