An Unguarded Moment

When you gaze at the photo below, do you wonder how your face would look in your most unguarded moment, when you are not pretending? Does the word “pretending” startle you? But why? Don’t we pretending all day, concealing our feelings, succumbing to worldly needs? Oscar Wilde once said, “Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.” Don’t you think rightly so? I doubt that we are ever ourselves in public. Sometimes we think we are but in reality we aren’t. But what can we do? We have to do it to survive. Sometimes our culture forces us to do that, and sometimes it’s simply a habit. In the matter of truth, it can be hardest to attain.

The Peaceful Expression, by Minh Nghia Le

The definition of truth and honesty is not as well known as the meaning of lies and manipulation. Lies are easier to form, with the truth so much harder to state. But then when you are on your own in the world, facing yourself, that self you often hide, and hide from, what do you do? Can you pretend to yourself? I don’t think so, and as we can’t do this, at least not for a very long time, what happens to us? Can we find our inner peace there? Can you see it in someone’s face? Can we make amends with our soul at this moment?

Source:
Photo of the Day | May 08 | The Peaceful Expression, by Minh Nghia Le