Masks

I am quite fascinated by a friend's preoccupation with masks. I know it sounds nerdy but this fascination forces me to allude to Hamlet "God hath given you one face and you go and make yourself another." What we see is not essentially who we are; unfortunate as it may seem.

Although in an ideal world, a utopia, everyone should act and seem as is true; does this revelation ever occur? I doubt it. I think I could name two of my friends whom I consider truly genuine. They may not be content with who they or what they are doing at this present time but they do not try and hide themselves with a separate facade. I wish I too was that strong. I believe, at times, I wear a mask and only ever reveal snippets of what lies beneath to those whom I truly trust and love. I am not proud of my mask and I don't know if anyone is.

Whether one's mask is physical or mental - is it healthy to withold what is true to oneself?

I read a beautiful message that went along the lines that one's thoughts always makes them beautiful, regardless of the flaws in their physicl appearence. If they have beautiful thoughts that is what people see. My first thought...? BULLSHIT! Then i continued to contemplate how shocking it is that I react that way. Am I that shallow or is it just how i perceive our cruel society? To observe the bullying at school, on the internet - over the most irrelevent and childish issues - is a disgrace to mankind. (I was going to write a pun on the irony of the word 'mankind' after that statement but does it not speak for itself?)

Listening to Muse this morning I heard the most perfect example of what I am trying to communicate here. In their song, my favourite song from their recent album, Undisclosed Desires came the message "I want to recognise your beauty is not just a mask" Here here Matt Bellamy! He visualises a utopia which I unfortunately believe is becoming extinct. Depressing isn't it?! As personalities are further feigned what hope do we have left? I for one hope I can find one of the few genuine ones. One I can trust and believe is true. If I can't find someone who is true to both herself and me; what is the point?

I have been fortunate enough to play football with senior players which instills me with consolation confidence. They are fun blokes but they don't judgee. They are supported and respectful. How I wish we learn this valuable lesson before we become adults. Really if footballers can be respectful how hard can it be?

To conclude i will once more like to quote Hamlet. The second most famous quote, behind only the cliche 'To be or not to be..'; "To thine own self be true." The most profound quote from the most foolish character, Polonious. I prefer this quote because in my mind it is as true today as it was when young William Shakespeare originally wrote it.

So, if you are to learn anything from this post, learn from history;

To thine own self be true