Before he died, Rabbi Zusya said: “In the world to come they will not ask me, ‘Why were you not Moses? They will ask me, ‘Why were you not Zusya?’â€
– Legend about Hasidic Rabbi Zusya of Hanipoli
I started to notice a couple of weeks ago that the talk on Facebook and among friends and family started getting very serious about Halloween costumes. Both children and adults alike were using lots of creativity to come up with the perfect costume. I guess I’m a creature of habit because I never have to think about it – I’ve always dressed up as a witch for Halloween! Okay, no cracks about that if the costume fits, wear it! There has been some variety – I’ve been a scary witch, a good witch, a wacky witch, a sexy witch, but always a witch. Well, there was the time that I was a bag of jelly beans!
But, I digress…
All this costume talk made me think about how often we wear costumes and masks when it’s not Halloween. We all have roles to fill – wife, mother, partner, career woman, community leader, member of a congregation, PTA chairperson, friend, daughter. I could go on…
We each have individual gifts we bring to those roles and to life, in general; gifts that are ours alone. The question is:Â How often do we, instead of using those gifts to present our authentic selves, present what we think others want to see and let our roles consume us?
Ask yourself: “Am I being ME and accepting and loving who I am and what I bring to the table?†Or, “Am I comparing myself to my ‘skinny friend’, still trying to win approval from my parents or working myself to death at a job I hate and trying to ‘keep up with the Joneses?’â€
Hhhmmmmm…
In this last couple of months of the year, take a lesson from nature as she moves into dormancy to regenerate for the coming spring: Slow way down and take a look at what’s important to you & why, what you love, what your ‘non-negotiables’ are, who you are and what you stand for, so that you can emerge with integrity as the awesome, authentic YOU that you already are.
Ladies, it may be Halloween, but it’s time to remove the mask!
Please leave your comments, questions and ideas below. And, remember, “It is never too late to be what you might have been.†-George Eliot
With love from your partner on the path,
Lisa :-)
*Â Â Â Â *Â Â Â Â *Â Â Â Â *Â Â Â Â *
Thanks so much for reading. Please subscribe to my RSS feed or fill out that cute little box to your right and I will hand deliver fresh & healthy food for thought to your email inbox – about once a week.
6 responses to “Remove the Mask!”
Lisa, Lisa, Lisa….this post couldn’t have come at a better time for me personally! As much effort as I’ve put into becoming ME this year, a few careless words earlier this week threatened to undo all the hard work. Thank you for this post and helping me to regain my focus! You’re the best!!! xoxo
You are quite welcome! And, Kudos to you, my friend, for remaining steadfast in your “YOU-ness!” <3
Great Post Lisa
Thank you, Laurie! :-)
Love this post and I totally agree :). We absolutely need to take the masks off and be our true, authentic selves.
Thanks, Leanne! I love helping women do just that! :-)