The voice, the pen

I have often noticed how, what one feels, another thinks. Why, then, should we not share those thoughts and feelings? It might make things clearer for all... Here, I am offering snippets on whatever gets me thinking, with the intention of sharing these moments with you, hoping for a dialogue of sorts. Whether a word, a sentence, a whole text, please, share.

Tuesday 12 February 2013

Naked

We all cover ourselves, a logical activity to protect ourselves from the elements. In these cold winter days, particularly if like me you live in a snowy, wet country, layers and layers become caring hugs, warm embraces, portable nests. There are few things more certain to win a sigh of contentment than a frostbitten nose hiding behind a furry scarf, the ice melting in the vapour of one's own body heat.

And therein lies the question: have we taken all this love of layers and protection too far for our own good?

Certainly, we need to shield our bodies from the weather. That is indisputable, even foolish to consider otherwise (at least, I'd think that of anyone who decides to go out in a blizzard wearing short sleeves, for example).  However, it seems to me that we have taken to adapting the practice to areas of ourselves beyond the merely bodily. We have become, in fact, adept at layering our every reality, every aspect of our personalities, of our thoughts, of our spirits. And these layers have little to do with keeping warm, though everything with hiding.

Yes, we hide. We hide behind conventions and social agreements, lest we be considered too alien to belong. We also hide behind logic and reason, justifying each and every one of our actions. Then we hide behind spirituality and religion, to make sure we are on the right path, so if we 'mess up' we'll know we have credits to be bailed out (in the afterlife, maybe, but then an eternity of punishment is a very scary thought). Back to the physical, we hide behind fashions and symbols of 'tribe allegiance' - are you a Mod? Punk? City slicker? Posh? Grunge? Trash? Emo? Barbie/Ken? Council stater?... So varied! And yet, behind their trappings we hide.

There are many different illusions we use to hide behind, and the more we use them, the more lonely, lonesome, alone we are. It may seem like we're protecting ourselves, when in fact we are merely falling prey to, feeding, further engorging, our fears. We hide, yes, but we are not really hiding from a dangerous and scary world.

We are trying to hide from ourselves. And, newsflash! It just won't work.

What to do?

Let's go naked! Where piling the layers on is harmful, shedding them is actually both enjoyable, terrifying and empowering. And no, once again, I am not sponsoring skinny-dipping in an ice hole - leave that to the seals, they have the fur and blubber for it, bless their dewy dark eyes. What I do support is the shedding of masks, of shields, of definitions, of constructs. It's the shedding of a truly alienating self-delusion, a parasitic image we have created which we believe defines us, identifies us.

Go naked! Out of your head, into your heart. Dare show it; dare share it. Dare leave your face, your mind, your soul exposed.

Naked!