The Man In The Mirror
Today I decided to try out an exercise suggested by a friend in a newsletter she posts every Monday. She urged us to stand in front of a mirror look at ourselves and repeat the following lines every time we feel down in the dumps. Here are the lines…
It can be hard sometimes, to stay your path
It can be hard sometimes, to find hope
It can be hard sometimes to not fall apart when things are taking too long
It can be hard sometimes, the wait – for the seeds you have sown – to bloom
It can be hard sometimes to put one foot in front of the other
It is okay to throw a tantrum, or be unkind when you are not feeling your best, to cry…scream.
Recently I had been slightly under the weather, and I tried out the exercise as soon as I read the newsletter. The exercise I must admit cheered me up immensely. The effect was fabulous. I felt like Berty Wooster usually feels after consuming one of Jeeves’ pick-me-ups every time he is faced with the prospect of a visit by his aunt Agatha. In short, I felt immensely cheerful immediately.
But my despondent mood returned the minute my back was to the mirror. I turned to the mirror impulsively, looked at the old fellow there, waved my hands and said, ‘You don’t really care how difficult life can be for people, do you? Boy, aren’t you one cruel chap! You just stand there reflecting our moods! We can’t hide anything from you. Why can’t you be a little more real. I mean add some cheer to our lives every time we stand in front of you with that morose look. That would be more encouraging than to just act like a dumb replica. Aren’t you tired of imitating us?’
To my surprise and my horror the fellow in front of me grinned. He said and I quote, ‘I am reflecting your soul, old man. I project the scene exactly like it is. I don’t hide anything from myself or from you. It is you who are the dummy. I am the real version and you are the image. I have been been telling people for ages that every time they stand in front of me in high euphoria, or in a mood of misery, it is time to get back to a state of balance. It is my way of putting the facts in front of you. Trouble is you are too stupid to grasp this simple fact. Come on now, life can’t be that bad! Let us smile and make up!’
With that the chap in the mirror held his hand out. Thunderstruck, I stretched my hand out to shake it.
