I read an article this past week that talked about women of a certain age becoming “invisible.” It kind of rang true since I have had that feeling many times lately and just had an instance where I saw that idea in action.
I went to Atlanta with my guys for the New Year’s weekend. Jon was covering the playoff game for his radio station and Tim and I decided to tag along. The game was on New Year’s eve and then we had New Year’s day to have a mini vacation before heading out early on Monday to get Jon back to the radio station by 10 am.
On our vacation day we decided to eat a great meal and then go to an NBA game. In keeping with my wild resolutions I broke a rule when entering the arena. Yes, me the follow every rule all of the time gal. I didn’t do anything bad or harmful to anyone, I was actually helping Tim. But I knew I could do it because I am a middle aged women with a small purse full of reading glasses and used tissues. So I took my chances and I was right- I barely got a glance and a grunt from the security guard.
As I got ready to write this yesterday, I was stopped by the breaking news about the shooting in the Ft. Lauderdale airport. And that reminded me of the news story about the kids who tortured a challenged kid of a different race that I saw the day before. While watching that story, I heard someone on air ask how people can do such things. They went on to ask how these kids would feel if such a thing was done to their sister or brother or mom.
That is when it dawned on me that maybe it isn’t just me or other old ladies that are invisible. I wonder if we aren’t all becoming invisible.
Do we really see each other as human beings or has all of the labeling and division of late made us where we don’t take the time to see each individual? Are we dehumanizing each other as we see each others’ race, religion, political party, etc rather than each others humanity? Is it easier to fight with, torture, or kill each other if we see their label instead of their soul? If we see how different we are instead of how much alike we all are?
I am concerned about being invisible. That is what I was going to write about. But in actuality I am concerned that we are all becoming invisible to each other. We are so busy on our phones and computers, so busy defending our point of view, so busy finding a reason to argue where there really isn’t one, so ready to fight instead of discuss, to win instead of compromise, so ready to put up a wall instead of extend a hand.
I am scared. There- I said it. I am scared. Being invisible doesn’t mean I am not here. If you can’t see me, well, I can see you. And I guess I’ll have to just work at it a little harder to make sure I am seen and that I do all I can to help take away some of these labels and divisions. I am not sure how or what I can do, but maybe my new “bad girl” attitude will help me to find a way.
I urge all of you to put down your devices and see each other. Not just the people you know and usually associate with, but to really SEE everyone around you. Put away your preconceived ideas about what a certain “type” of person might think or be. Remember we are all human and no matter how different we might seem, we have to find that common ground if we are ever going to survive.
In the mean time, I will just be over here trying not to be invisible.
