Who hasn’t felt invisible at some point? Even though you know you have so much to offer, you feel unseen? Unheard? Like you're behind a veil. I remember my mother telling me that when she turned 50, she became invisible. My mother moved to New York City from Denver, drawn to the big city's glamour and lights, dreaming of becoming a model. As a young woman, she certainly was an alluring beauty, always done-up and elegantly dressed. My dashing father, eleven years her senior, swept her off her feet. She married at 21 and became a mother (to me) at 22, abandoning her dream of modeling, although she never stopped dressing the part. Frequently praised for her good looks well into her forties, her appearance was an integral and important part of her identity. My mother was only echoing something I had heard time and again, that middle-aged women just fade into the background. That is presupposing that all women have to offer is their appearance! For that matter, I can think of some pretty gorgeous women over 50! Sadly, Mom only lived to see 60, but I believe if she were still here today, I could convince her that she didn’t have to feel invisible. Of course she aged, but she was still so beautiful. Her smile lit up a room and people were drawn to her wherever she went. Of course, I like to feel beautiful. I'd be lying to say that aging is easy. For now, I try to not spend too much time looking in the mirror. There are far more interesting things to look at. Certainly, I will not be picking up my knitting needles and shuffling into a rocking chair (not that both of those things don't sound cosy and lovely!). If that's what you want to do, enjoy. I've got other plans. At this point in my life, I have my voice. I speak up. The layers of youthful inhibition that dogged me are slipping away. And while the past decade has been exceedingly challenging, I have discovered that I am stronger than I ever could have imagined. I am not invisible. The first definition of "Ghost" in the Miriam Webster dictionary is: Definition of ghost 1: the seat of life or intelligence : soul The seat of life or intelligence. The soul. Isn't that what this is all about? This life thing? So hear me. Read me. See me. I am GHOSTE. You decide what the E is for. I'll never tell.
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September 2022
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