The mask

                All people wear a mask. Maybe not all the time, but at some point in their lives, each and every single human being has adorned a mask. I am not talking about the literal mask, I am going to ramble about the metaphorical one. The mask people wear to offices, schools, churches, temples, while travelling, eating, drinking, enjoying, and countless other scenarios. Everywhere you look around, a person might be masquerading his or her true self under a simple or an elaborate mask. Humans of all ages don and remove masks all the time.

                Which begs the following questions: What is the point of these masks? Why can't we show our true selves? Who or what stops us? Is the mask a good thing? Should we continue wearing different masks? When do we show our true selves? To whom do we show it?

                The answers to these questions depend on the individual, their circumstances, and the people around them. Given the same scenarios to the same person, he or she might react differently and show a different side each time. All that is acceptable and understandable.

                Have you ever noticed some people who always seem happy? Whenever you see them, they have a smile on their face. Which is a really good thing. Realistically, no one can be happy all the time, right? (If yes, then I am astonished beyond words) How do they do it? How do they hide their emotions perfectly behind their "happy" masks? How long do they do it? Doesn’t it take a toll on them? Don’t the characteristics of the mask seep into their real personalities? Or is that the purpose?

                What about those people who stay silent all the time? No way they are actually silent, they just happen to be wearing their silence masks. How difficult it must be for them to actually talk when they need to? I am just guessing here, but I do think it must be incredibly difficult to shed that mask. Here's the most interesting question: What is their true nature?

                “You wear a mask for so long, you forget who you were beneath it.” 

                ― Alan Moore, V for Vendetta

This is what my question is. Recently, I explained to someone how the mask is a good thing, and how it can be exploited to the fullest. But I did not give much thought to its aftereffects. Food for thought, I guess.

                I absolutely have no idea from where I get these weird thoughts!