I’m a fan of Top Gear. I saw a recorded (ie recorded from God knows when) that shows a Very Fast Car (of who-knows-what brand, doing who-knows -what-speed) and I am inclined to ask myself “What exactly do I want in a car?”
Lots of women ‘of a certain age’ want nothing more than petrol economy, reliable safety and the ability to carry very young children to and from play dates. They mostly settle for simple economy cars that fir into small spaces. Does this fit the profile of a confirmed petrol-head? Of course not!!
Women like me require the ability to get off first at the lights, even though we are disguised behind Large Sunglasses! Not competing, you understand, just mildly showing off. But all the time pretending we are seriously unconcerned about Being First.
Do people like me really want a Ferrari? No, I don’t think so. We want simply to be noticed. And to stand out. Without appearing to Make An Effort. What a lot of bull dust!
If only we could make a social impact with our looks and personality as easily as we do with our cars! But the real truth is the we make an impact with our genuine appearance, which includes the car we drive!
Oscar Wilde said “Only a fool would not judge a book by its cover” . So we know that whichever image we present to the world is the one they see and accept. Hence the big cars are a mirror of our image of ourselves. If we choose to drive (or wear) something that says “small and afraid” then we can safely assume that we will be seen as small and afraid. Which determines the currency of con artists from time immemorial. They have ‘front’!
So how should honest citizens approach the public image that they wish to promote of themselves? The Fundamental Truth may be unpalatable because it may include uncomfortable facts. But we are surely allowed to present a truth that includes simple, real things about ourselves that are not overly destructive of our self-esteem.
We all ‘wear’ clothes, cars, shoes etc that reflect what we want the world to think of us: clever, intelligent, fast, sexy etc. But where exactly can we find our really true selves? Who are the real selves we have to answer for, tell our kids we truly are, or answer to our Highest Power for??
Who cares?
Be who you Really Are in this life. Be true to your own deep self. Because it is your own deep self that knows if the outer you is very important or just a passing wish to drive a fast car, or if you want to stand alone as an important contributor to human development or simply to our own children’s life.
In the end, we need to be pleased with our contribution to our family, not to strangers. In the end we need to set an example to our grandchildren so that they learn from our experience. So that they do not go through the dramas that taught us what we know. But alas, that is an illusion. All the different generations have to learn their own lessons. We can only set examples.
But I intend to set a Godalmighty example of being happy, adventurous, and true to myself. And, let me tell you, I LOVE cars!!!
Blessings,
Maura