Splurge on Self!       V. Bostic  - Freelance Writer

What you see is What you get..... Or is it? How do you read to a passerby? Have you ever wondered what does one gather from your aura? Do you exude who you truly are, or do you present an illusion of who you would like others to believe you are? We are all people watchers. Interestingly enough, not only do we watch people, but we dig a little deeper in our predictions of one another and attempt to determine what shoes an individual is filling. The tools we use to make such an analysis vary greatly. For the most part, whether we use our tools responsibly or irresponsibly, consciously or unconsciously, simply being a participant of life will, undoubtedly, influence you to exercise your ability to use your inner tools in determining who another individual truly is. I guess one could argue that it is all based on perceptions. Ideally, that is a fair statement. Why does it even matter? Well, for some people it doesn’t matter, but for those of us who like to uncover some of the mysteries in life, it does. Perceptions are real to the beholder; they are vital to the way life unfolds. It seems that perceptions are very similar to dreams, and just like dreams, they can only ignite to the multitude in which one views life. Has this ever happened to you? You know of a person in passing only. Perhaps you work with this individual or live in the same neighborhood. Maybe you have heard from others that this person is a mean troublemaker. Subconsciously you may not realize that you’ve accepted that statement from others as true. One day, during an encounter, this individual looks directly into your eyes and does not speak or acknowledge you. As a matter of fact, this happens every time you encounter this person. You write it off as nothing because it only confirms what others have already said. Until one day you come across the same person who, surprisingly, says hello. Suddenly a friendly conversation develops, and you learn of some things the two of you have in common. It turns out to be a long-lasting friendship. It is very possible that the previous scenario is a common one. It seems that we are constantly releasing an old perception. Who are you? That’s what we are really saying. It is much easier to understand someone when you have taken the time to get to know who they are. It is the difficult task of human relations. As perceptions are being exposed, discoveries are being born. It's nature’s way of uncovering the hidden value in risk taking, in having the ability to change, and more importantly, in being human. Consequently, the way we see one another, whether true or false, lies greatly in the way we see ourselves. Keep in mind that in order to recognize negative characteristics in others, it must first be present in oneself. Ultimately, we are like books, and we all have different covers. You can’t truly know the content of a book until you’ve taken the time to read it. It's fair to say that the cover of one’s book is his or her way of self-expression, or like a magnetic force to attract others. It is the silent way we invite others to walk in our shoes. Therefore, is what you see what you get? Maybe not, but whoever you are, and however the rest of the world perceives you, when given the chance, never miss the opportunity to allow someone to read your story.

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