My last blog was about women feeling invisible. The response was touching and very informative. Many emails saying they thought they were the only one to feel this way. As one woman said “it is wonderful to feel I am not the only one and that I have company”.
Here is what I think about “being invisible”. The typical life ……we grow up, marry, have children. The children then become teenagers and guess where we are delegated….. not anywhere near them! We have become invisible to our children because they are trying to become themselves. They no longer wish to be “the son of” or “the daughter of”…..the want their own separate individual identity. Remember we did this too!
As time goes on the cycle repeats itself and our children marry and perhaps have children of their own. Voile! We are now needed as they know nothing about babies. You are now a wealth of information plus if you live close you are now the trusted one to babysit. Life is good again!
These wonderful, talented, beautiful grandchildren soon grow up to be teenagers. They are busy with their friends, school, dates……you will soon feel that familiar invisible feeling again.
However, the hardest “invisible feeling” you can have is when you become invisible as a WOMAN. No longer do you walk into a room and heads turn. That one feeling you took for granted …..or maybe you never recognized this happened….but when it is gone you know.
The long legged blonde with the flowing hair has the men panting. Off to the gym we go. I remember when I went to the gym the first time and saw all those machines I was sure I had entered a modern day torture chamber. We take palettes to firm our core, yoga to become graceful again, we go for long walks to remove the stress from our faces. All this to regain a time now gone.
So the question is….What do we do about this feeling? Do we really become invisible? If we share this feeling will others think we are superficial and weak?
First, let me say…..the feeling of being invisible is a REAL feeling. It actually happens. How we deal with this is the true test. I have not always been good at this as I, like many of you, wear this motherly, womanly feeling on my shoulders. I have withdrawn, felt sorry for myself and even shared tears with my dogs……after all they understand everything I am going through.
However, let’s set a pack right now among us…….when we feel this invisible feeling, reach out and share with someone you really trust. Someone who will NOT roll their eyes or take a deep breath then rush off to share your wonderful story of woe with their friends. This is a sensitive feeling so who you share this with is an extremely important decision.
If you can’t find anyone you trust…..email me as I certainly understand.
Have a wonderful visible day !!!