My mother has several “famous expressions,” but one that she brings up often is, “when people show you who they are, believe them.” I think sometimes that’s easier listened-to than done. Especially for someone like me who tends to see things through rose colored glasses. Last night I took a deep breath and took them off. To say I was disappointed in what I saw would be the understatement of the century… but certainly the processes was helpful and necessary. It’s not just about how people treat you, it’s about how they treat other people… who they hold themselves out to be vs. who they really are. After making some difficult observations I took a little walk in the rain and figured the rest of my night was going to be devoted to coming to terms with this disappointment.
One good thing about removing rose colored glasses and seeing people for who they really are is, some people are actually more beautiful without them… (quelle suprise!) Some people shine the best when illuminated by the full spectrum… imperfections highlighted and all. So with my rose colored glasses still off, I was lucky enough to encounter someone who has had the benefit of them throughout our entire friendship.
In the sharp light of reality, his flaws were brought into full light (don’t get me wrong, mine were too…he did a good job of helping me see myself sans-glasses!) But the crazy, amazing part of it was, all of his beauty was illuminated by that which had been muted before. He is perfectly imperfect. It was one of the most fortunate encounters I could have had… because it sparked a part of me that has been uninspired for some time. On a cold, drizzly, June night, I was filled with a pure, bright, uncensored kind of beauty.
I think that people come into your life when they are supposed to. I think that we come to realizations when we are supposed to, as long as we are open to them. I can’t really change who I am… I think that even if I attempt hide my glasses, or attempt to suppress my idealistic view of people and the world, I wouldn’t be true to myself. But I have learned to open my eyes a little bit wider. To take the glasses off from time to time… And to be overwhelmingly happy (for better or worse) when people show me who they are.
Right. You didn’t come here for my random observations… you came for fashion, so here you go:
Patricia Ayres is the independent Fashion Designer and Artist behind Art Lab. Currently based in NYC, her work has been shown and sold around the world. Her clothes tend to be fun, conceptual, one-of-a-kind pieces. Her accessories…small bags and cases…are all handmade and one of a kind and Patricia does all her own printmaking on those pieces…. tres impressive! Her inspiration comes from dreams, memories, the urban landscape, and film… a fun “TGIF” designer!
You can shop her work on Etsy!
* Points for working it into a post title?
2 Comments
I’m inspired to find some way your enlightenment fits into my life. I think, well I know I’m wearing the rose colored glasses. I’m just not sure I’m ready to take them off yet. Because I don’t know if his flaws make him ‘perfectly imperfect’ or a major disappointment…
Yeah… the world can be a little scary when all is illuminated, but wouldn’t you rather know? The P.S. to the post is, both people read it… and the guy behind the first paragraph was more than magnanimous in his response. So it was kind of ironic… when I was finally able to highlight my disappointment (we chatted before I posted) in him, his reaction was such that I was actually genuinely impressed with him for the first time
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