Intro: Pounding bass note and a stirring fanfare of horns. Welcome to another edition of things to think about. Here's Stacy. The horns continue with a keyboard note held.Relaxing piano music is in the background.
Welcome to the Things To Think About Podcast where we use fables and fairy tales to come to deeper truths about our subconscious world. I’m Stacy Casson and today’s tale explores who we are. A tired me is a different person than a rested me, but I am still me. We will dive into this topic in a story I call, The Face Collector. And now, get comfortable and relax. Take a Deep Breathe in and exhale. A Deep Breath in, and exhale. A Deep breath in and exhale. And if you'd like, you can slowly...close...your eyes.
Once upon a time, there was a Face Collector. They had a face for almost every occasion and carried them around in a book like a macabre photo album. They wore so many faces that they forgot who they were. As they lay in bed one morning, they asked themselves, “who do I want to be today?” All they wanted to do was to remain in bed and hide under the covers so they flipped through the faces and decided on “responsible adult” to start the day. If you saw the Face Collector in person, it would be very hard to detect who they were. Each face they wear is almost seamless and gives them the power to be a social chameleon. If you pay close attention, you may see a tightness around the eyes and sometimes a slight tremor in their hands since it is an effort to wear another face.
The “responsible adult” face fit them like a glove as it was their go-to on most days. Lately, it felt tighter because they wanted to rage against the forces that constrained them. That would never do, of course, so they carefully put on the face each day and powered through. Sometimes they had to switch out the face in the middle of the day. When there was an especially difficult task, they would sneak away to an empty room and put on the “cold hard efficiency” face. Or during parties they would don the “carefree social butterfly” face and use its power to charm, everyone, they met. This being a fairy tale requires us to have a ball. The Face Collector stared at the announcement and did not fret about clothing. Their mind was lost in thought about who would appear at the ball. The ruler wanted to find a suitable match and all eligible persons were required to attend the ball.
In their rush to get home and prepare, the Face Collector dropped the album. Thankfully no one was around, so they hurriedly collected the faces and stashed them in the album. They would organize it when they got home. What they did not realize was that their true face had been tucked into the album, near the end, stuck to another face, and dislodged by the fall. The Face Collector prepared for the ball. They purchased a new outfit on a whim that brought them joy. They did not see the tiny tear on the face they were wearing caused by a genuine smile. They pored over the faces and found one that seemed unfamiliar. They carefully put it on and frowned. This face felt like they were not wearing anything, but it also felt strange. The clock was ticking; time was running out and they had to leave for the ball. “We can’t be turning into a pumpkin before we even get there” they muttered.
All eyes were on the Face Collector when they were announced and entered the ball. They were oblivious to the stir they caused. The music entranced them, and they half walked, half danced across the resplendent ballroom. There was a tap on their shoulder, and someone asked them to dance. “I’d rather not” popped out of their mouth, yet thankfully this new face was able to hide their shock at their candid response. Normally they would have worn their “people pleaser” face to such a grand event and accepted having their feet crushed by a clumsy partner. Had they made the wrong decision with this unfamiliar face? Another sensation crept up and they sipped on some punch as they deliberated what they were feeling. They felt strong and strangely free. They looked around the room and noticed that many of the other attendees had a slight tightness around their eyes. They thought they were the only one who collected faces. Perhaps this was truly a masquerade after all. There was another tap on the shoulder and when they turned they almost lost their breath. The eyes in this face were tender and gentle. “May I have this dance?” asked the ruler. The Face Collector finally was able to show their true self.
What would you do? Will you accept the dance or walk away? What does it mean to be true to yourself? And now, you can take a deep breath in and exhale. A deep breath in and exhale. Deep breath in, and exhale. And when you're ready, wiggle your toes, wiggle your fingers, and slowly open your eyes. If you are enjoying this podcast, please subscribe and never miss an episode. Closing: Closing jazzy keyboard and thrumming bass. Hope you enjoyed today's segment. Tell a friend. See you next time. Music fades. https://anchor.fm/stacy-casson/support
