Mirror Mirror on the Wall

Most of know what this is a reference to. A fairly calm, safe, innocent part of our childhood upbringing. There are always exceptions, but fairy tales and bedtime stories have been around for hundreds if not thousands of years. But with this story, I’m going to put my own spin on it. In the story the mirror was enchanted if you will, somewhat of a conscious ability to think and to respond. It could see and talk and return answers to questions. Does your mirror work that way? If it did, how would you use it, what questions would you ask? I had to actually put myself into this model of thinking. I looked into my bathroom mirror and said, ” oh mirror, mirror what do you see when you look back at me.” The mirror said nothing, go figure. But my inner self spoke volumes. Do you ever stop and listen to your inner self? I believe we all do self-talk and depending on our state of being that self-talk can be positive or negative. Mine has been negative as of late. I don’t like who I see in the mirror. I don’t like my physical appearance, and I don’t like who I have become through the years. Looking into the mirror gives me great regret and that gives me great sadness. My ego on the other hand stares back at me and says, “I’ll make ya famous?” Vanity and Ego, two great mood lifters but also great stumbling blocks throughout life. We are our own worst critique and our own hero in the story we tell ourselves.

I have said this probably too many times, aging sucks. I used to be fit and strong and healthy. As time goes by, I realize that I’m quickly eroding away faster and faster as the years slide on by. Eroded by the choices I have made, eroded by choices made for me. Eroded by changes all around such as technology that develops faster and faster. Eroded by isolation. And yet most of all eroded by nature itself. Our machines are not meant to last. So, I go back to the mirror. “Mirror, mirror on the wall, what do you see?” Lately the response has been, “I see what you used to be.” Well, that’s just great. But then my ego kicks in and I resond, “hey I’m not so bad for being an old guy.” Then reality kicks in and says, that doesn’t really matter because you are rapidly running out of time. Time for what? Time for anything and everything. I have squandered years upon years of my life, going through the motions, living paycheck to paycheck. Always dreaming but never achieving. Never reaching the full potential of who I “should” have been. “It’s not too late”, ego says. “Sit back on the couch”, my body says. “Dull your responsibilities”, my mind says. Then my spirts utters its own take on the situation. “Don’t be a drab fool, you are empowered, get up and go forth, just do it, no fear.” Then I smash the mirror.

The mirror is more than just a reflection, it is a gateway to your other selves. But sometimes I think this mirror is used in and for all the wrong reasons. Sometimes people don’t like to look at themselves and so they mirror back to others in order to not look at themselves. Self-denial can be cosmic stumbling block for oneself and have a detrimental impact on others around our bubble. And more often than not we mirror back just from plain ignorance. It’s too arduous to look at oneself and take accountability, it’s easier to follow the mob, go with the flow, run on the wheel, round and round and round. Just as it’s eminently easy to puff up one’s chest and to think yourself better than everyone else. You know what is right, you know the best path to take, your ego is smarter than all those before you, with you and after you. My point being, is that the mirror tells you the truth and the mirror also lies to you. But in thus doing so a personal dilemma is formed and that is one of life’s biggest monsters. A two headed dragon that is almost impossible to kill. So most just live with it, either hiding timidly under a rock or recklessly trying to ride on its back. There is nothing wrong with being cautious and safe. There is nothing wrong with being bold and carefree. But I have found that a balance of both is what propels people in the next step they take. This is done with wisdom and humility. So, when you get out of the shower, and the steam has fogged up the mirror, wipe it away to see your image and pay close attention to the image that is staring back at you. It really is trying to tell you something.