Web Spinning

We all do it. It’s a part of human nature. Spin a web of illusion. Mask the flaw, hide an emotion, or build a better image. Don’t let anyone know you’re scared or worried; weak or vulnerable; or sad or heartbroken. You spin the web to protect yourself or to appear more confident and capable than you really feel.

Here on the internet those webs take on a whole new life. From usernames to avatars. We compose our profiles to show only the best and omit anything that might be too telling as to our true nature. We have the advantage of seeing our words before anyone else so we can be selective…editing as we go along.

Most of us have lived fairly boring lives, and are even more boring in these, our senior years. Infirmities may have forced us to sit huddled in our rooms while we struggle to recall the good old days. But even our memories aren’t as clear as we would like. So we spin a few more webs and hope no-one will discover the wizard behind the curtain.

But be careful of those webs. They can be treacherous. When you start believing them to be true they have become your enemy. They will ensnare you, refusing to release you. Choking you on their dusty images. Replacing your virtues and agendas with those of an unseen, unheard entity.

Without the webs we are a bunch of over-the-hill has-beens. With them we are transformed into the beautiful people of the world. Suddenly we are smarter, braver, kinder, and wiser than we have ever been. Just don’t let the webs become you.

Yes, I know – YOU are the exception.