Oscar Wilde once said ‘The truth is rarely pure and never simple. Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you his truth.’ We think we know who we are, who we want to be but most of the times the truth gets in the way of that, but when we manage to look truth in the eye the person we are is finally revealed. Just like everything the truth comes with consequences, repercussions sometimes it’s painful but sometimes it’s pure joy. People want to believe that whatever happens is fate and not freewill because it is hard to own up to the truth. Living our own truth isn’t always comfortable but it always tells us where we want to go or where we must go. Being truthful can be a vulnerability, it can make us invisible but the things that we miss are the things that are hidden. Invisibility is all around, even in the most familiar and obvious places people tend to hide themselves. The visible can disappear and the invisible can be seen and what people really see comes from within us, it comes from us being true to ourselves. It is not always easy to put yourself out there truthfully but taking risks is important. Vulnerability is a gift, it opens us up to pain and embarrassment, with that it brings us truth and acceptance. Ultimately truth is what allows us to grow. The truth may be unpopular but that does not mean it should not be proclaimed. If you listen carefully enough there’s a part of you that is always trying to be truthful. Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives hiding it. The greatest magicians deceive the world by making people believe that he holds power in his empty fist, by masking truth. We can’t live our whole life in magic and mystery, at some point the scales tip and the truth uncloaks itself. Being perfect is important but being truthful is necessary. There is something about truth that is beautiful amidst all its ugliness, truth is bittersweet. We are drawn to truth and in a way, we seek comfort from it. Fantasy is seductive and we start to believe it, to live in it and to avoid the truth most times we deceive ourselves by believing what is easiest for us. Truth is pervasive, it cannot be denied. In the end the truth is always accepted by us or by others. Not to pursue truth would be absurd, since it’s the one thing that gives us peace. Life is a marathon and running alongside the truth is more satisfying than chasing the lies.

–Hope Mia Heffron–