Mirrors

Our severest critics, they look at us as few eyes dare – blunt, merciless, mocking. And yet we view them like true friends, confidants, advisors, trusting their appraisals as fair, just, unbiased, and benign as they know us infinitely better than we would dare to know ourselves. And then one day, as if we took no note of passing time, we feel the gaze too fiercely, too cutting, the truth too harsh, the light too revealing. Suspicion, doubt, distrust set in. We turn away shakened, betrayed. Finally, to compensate for what we see as lies and treachery, we take refuge in self-delusion, that last haven of the desperate heart, and pretend with relief that restores our self-confidence and peace of mind that every mirror has gone from harsh honesty to pity and conveniently gone blind.