Fun House Mirror
There is no carnival ride more poorly named than the “Fun House.” It typically is built to create enough disturbance in footing, sound and reflection to cause the average human to stop while they get their bearings. Humans tend to get a weird thrill from being off-balance but only by choice. When we know it is coming, we think we are prepared. We act super brave against the forces of evil who taunt us in the darkened ride. We even like to stop and observe how funny we look when our reflection has been stretched or squished to the point that it becomes a different us. Hence, the term “Fun House.”
Mirror Mirror
We know how to get a look at our actual reflection. It is common to place mirrors in certain positions in our homes. The steamy bathroom mirrors reflect our morning selves as we transform into what we want the world to see. The full-length mirror is designed to check out our whole outfit to see if there are any observable flaws. The one above the dresser is to reflect back on decor. The mirror in the entrance hallway is supposed to be used for comings and goings so that we continue to look our best. The ones in and on the car are for safety and vanity, hence the multiplication. Women have carried smaller mirrors in compacts for ages, but you can look at yourself using your smart phone now. Our faces seem to be everywhere.
Friendly Mirrors
Everyone in our lives is a mirror reflecting back the parts we appreciate about ourselves as well as the bits we don’t understand. When we are brave enough to use others as a reflection, it provides more clarity than any shiny mirror. Many times, our relationships with others are based on comfortable similarities. We talk about similar restaurants, streaming entertainment, shared activities and problems in our worlds. We literally reflect lives. Other partnerships are created from different situations and may pair us with those who do not share the same mirror. We can learn more from these groupings because there is less dependency. No one needs the other for fulfillment. We may gather more internal information about ourselves from the lack of sameness. The scarcity of surface acceptance doesn’t make a match. But it can create a new partnership.
Transformation
Knowing what we look like and reflect can lead to transformation. Gazing past the same old mirror lets us see something new. New stuff is intriguing, and we often want to know more about it. Curiosity leads to questions. When we have to invest in something, it tends to have more value. It even gives us the idea that life can be collaborative and enhanced from differences. Strength is often built on diversity because the actual difference in abilities lends itself to creating a stronger bond. When we are able to tap into all of our reflections, we might see a side of us that we missed before.
Can there be joy in staring at our reflection? Does partnering build a better bond? Can you count all of the mirrors in your life?
