Under The Mask

Who am I under the mask?

Who am I under my mask?

There have been a lot of masks going up recently.

Figuratively and literally.

Wherever we go these days people are wearing literal masks.

It’s strange and unnerving.

We can thank Covid for that.

But I wonder how many people are wearing emotional masks as well?

I know I used to all the time.

I still do.

When I’m out in public it doesn’t feel safe to show people who I really am.

I’m constantly trying to do and say things that will make them happy.

It’s because I’m afraid of rejection.

I wear my mask because I am afraid of rejection.

I think that if people really knew who I was they wouldn’t want to be with me anymore.

That’s a message I received from childhood and it still affects me to this day.

I wonder if childhood messages are the reasons we all wear masks.

We’re adults now but still feeling like scared little kids inside.

And we think that wearing our masks will protect them.

But I’m learning that it’s important to take off the mask.

(The emotional one, not the mask for Covid.)

I’m learning that some people will stay.

Some people will accept me and love me as I am.

I’m learning that some people want to know the real me.

And it feels so amazing to be wanted and known and loved.

It’s quite healing actually.

I think it’s going to heal those harmful childhood messages I’ve been living with.

I AM worth knowing and loving.

And so are YOU.

There are people who will want to know the real you.

People who will love who you are under your mask.

It’s safe to take it off sometimes.

It’s safe to show people who you are.

Maybe not everyone, but someone who is safe and loving.

My wish for us is that we can all find someone who wants to know who we are under our masks.

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