This is a short one. Maybe that’s appropriate. The less we say about our “Image,” the better?
Our faces are soft and gentle. They are vulnerable to attack. Punches to the nose. Smacks across the cheek. Biologically, we are wired to protect this part of ourselves.
But the “Face” this card talks about isn’t biological. It’s social.
Having a public persona is part of being human. Having that “face” be “good enough” or “measuring up” is very important to many well-adjusted people.
Personally, I find the idea of “Protecting my Public Image at the expense of others“ objectionable. That feels like a vanity I cannot endure. A kind of taking I will not endure.
But as I meditate on this photo of the card—which I absent mindedly took with my recycling bins in the background—I realize the tension. Here I am, trying to talk about “Public Image,” and my literal trash is in the frame.
Maybe that’s the healthy balance. My face is what people see when I’m interacting with them. It is my primary communication tool. We’re saying things before we open our mouths.
So, do I value “Preserving My Public Image”? Yes. But not because I want to look cool. I want to preserve a “Face” that signals safety. I want my face to say “You are welcome here” before I even speak.
Perhaps if I worry about my shirt or my publicly stated opinions, maybe it’s not just vanity. Maybe it’s an attempt to clear away the distraction so the Kindness can come through.
Even if the recycling bins are still in the background.
