Deception

 

People are deceptive.

Someone can look put together and happy or wealthy or healthy and be none of those things.

I know a person I think of as dandelion head. Partly because what she perceives as beautiful glossy curls looks like a dandelion about to have its seeds blown across the lawn. There is nothing glossy or curly about it, simply gray fuzz.

Dandy smiles in tight controlled ways that resemble happiness, but declares self consciousness. She knows what is expected, but has no way of conceptualizing it.

She has more than enough money to live well, but chooses to use that money on superficial things that she believes shows other people how she lives. Her bed is eightteen years old. Her shoes don't fit well and she eats mostly cheap fast food.

She still believes that silly behavior shows she is having fun and agreeing with everyone makes her agreeable. Both may be true to some extent, but she needs medicine to keep her from being extremely depressed. She doesn't understand that going through the motions is not the same thing as living well.

Her outdated belief that women can't do this or that, wear this or that, be this or that, or must be a certain way cause her constant conflict.

She cannot use her expensive new hearing aids comfortably and efficiently, so she often does not wear them at all. She does not know how to use her smart phone for anything except answering calls and sometimes she cannot even get that to work right. She barely understands how her microwave works. She chooses not to take the time to deal with or learn more about any of these things.

And yet to the casual observer Dandy is happy, healthy, well adjusted and content.