Eyelashes

A woman I met this weekend had beautiful eyelashes though it was clear most of them were not natural.

When I asked her about them, she told me she goes every 3 weeks to have new eyelashes glued into place. She explained that she has become addicted to these eyelashes, because she doesn’t like how she looks without them.

I don’t wear false eyelashes but certainly have glued things to myself that affect what I see when looking in the mirror.

The short list is that I see someone who is stressed and fearful (which is exhausting),  who believes she has to struggle (why don’t I let things be easy),  who is constantly tired  (take a nap, Barb), and who still can doubt herself with conviction (trust yourself my sweet dear).

Like many of us I have created patterns of behavior that may have once been necessary and protected me but that no longer serve me.

Over the years these behaviors have become so familiar that I haven’t questioned them. I wonder if they are as artificial as glued on eyelashes. I wonder if there is another way for me to look at myself and to move through my life.

Could it be that these behaviors are distracting me from being authentic and understanding the truth of who I really am. I’m not sure what my life would look like without them, but I think it’s time to find out.