Persona : Mask :: Self : Beauty

People's personas - their masks, their public identities - are a frightening thing. When you speak to someone, you are not dealing with the true essence of that person, but rather a strange projection of who that person wants you to see combined with a sense of restraint born out of a desire to avoid unpleasant social interaction. Their real self is buried far beneath that, asking all sorts of questions, making all sorts of judgements, contemplating all sorts of desires, saying all sorts of things. And you see and hear absolutely none of that.

It can also be a beautiful thing. As you get closer to someone, they open up. You open up. The mask slowly comes off, the shield is let down, and you get to see each other for who you are. The truest essence of a person usually ends up being known by a very, very select few. Even amongst their greatest friends and closest acquaintances, people have some sort of performance act going on. It's cool, that's fine - it makes friendship, partnership, and all other social relations their own special thing. You can be someone around a certain group of friends because of your mask. It's a social construct, an intrinsic piece of society. It's a good thing. Scary, if you think about it too hard, but good nonetheless.

When you really love someone and take off your mask, and become the real you, and can just talk about whatever, sit together in silence and be content, communicate without words, forgive the weird quirks in each other that society doesn't want to see, and even love these quirks, there's a deep, pure, and amazing beauty to that kind of relationship. It shines so brightly because it's the kind of thing you can't share with just anybody. People think it's reserved for significant others, but platonic friendships can reach this point, too. Middle schoolers refer to these people as their "best friends", a term that becomes less acceptable to use as you grow older. I think adults can share close platonic friendships, too, but it might be rarer in our society than it should be.

I wonder how many people sit down and truly think about this kind of thing. I often get accused of thinking too hard, or thinking too much when I bring this up to other people. Really? Come on. This is hardly scratching the surface. I guess it doesn't make for very entertaining small talk, I'll give people that.

Enough rambling romanticism.