invisible girl
Sometimes I feel invisible.
Not in an angst-y, existential, “does anyone ever notice me???” type of way. I mean more literally. Sometimes I think people really just don’t see me.
Last Sunday, my husband and I were at an amusement park; the company he works for rented out the entire place for their massive staff. I’m talking thousands and thousands of people. It was overwhelming. And the food section was especially packed.
As I wandered through the masses, people nearly ran into me more times than I can count. I’m not a petite person. I’ve never been called small. I’m pretty sure I don’t fade into the woodwork. But for some reason, people kept cutting in front of me or whirling around toward me, forcing me to do a quick dodge. Thankfully, I was ready, otherwise I likely would have ended up with salad in my hair and dressing dripping down my nose. (Now that would have been a great look for me.)
I almost wanted to stop them and say “Did you even see me?” Some of the people I jumped aside to avoid didn’t even give me a second glance. I don’t think they were being malicious or cruel — they just didn’t notice I was there!
My husband doesn’t have this problem. His explanation is that I look too nice — people think I won’t mind if they cut across in front of me. But that would require them to actually see me, and I’m not convinced they do.
This week, I’m attempting to be uninvisible (okay, I know it’s not really a word. Do I care? Nope. Do you understand what I mean? I bet so. Mission accomplished.). I’m trying to be uninvisible because I’m at a writers’ conference which requires stepping up and meeting people and all those other things that invisible people can’t really do.
But all the while, I’m trying to make sure I don’t become a member of the unseeing masses; I want to make sure I really see the people around me. Not just as human beings who deserve the right to walk without being forced to dodge, but as individuals with God-given talents and incredible futures.
That’s my personal challenge for this week. How about you?