Beautiful Masks

"We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others that in the end we become disguised to ourselves." ~François Duc de La Rochefoucauld

I guess that everyone wears a mask at some time in their life, if not at all times. They must surely serve a purpose and hopefully are of good use to you. But in the end the mask is not you. It is not who you really are. Who you need to be.

"We are betrayed by what is false within."~George Meredith

And eventually the pretence falls away and reveals you, naked and scared, to all those whom you sought to deceive. The sad irony is that as long as you wear the mask you cannot be loved for who you are. People may fall in love with the mask, and be disappointed by who you really are when it comes off.

Suppose we removed the mask before we get involved with others... Wouldn't it be wonderful to know that you are being accepted for who you are? To be loved on account of your inner beauty and including all your imperfections?

And how infinitely beautiful could it be if we knew, in our heart of hearts, that the other person is truly who they appear to be because they have removed their mask for you? Could you imagine a greater way to be loved?

One needs ask oneself:

What mask am I wearing? And why?

*Please note that I do not own any rights to this photograph.