Podcast Release July 28, 2020
Episode 41 Blog/ Metaphor Realities Of A Hat
In this latest episode 41 with Mari Hall, she and I speak
in metaphor reality.
I watched a theater production once where the actor performed
on a simple set highlighted by the hats and accessories he changed into as the
story went along. The hat and the actor wearing it held our attention as the
actor morphed a bit differently into each hat. It was a clever way to covey
simply the changing dynamics of personality present under the brim of the hat.
Mari and I talk of some of the many hats we wear and roles
we play. Our self-identities include many different facets of interactions and
relationships. Most of the time we are not in awareness of all of them each of
us encompass. But every role we have in our human repertoire, be it child,
parent, lover, loner, significant other, friend, enemy, victim, hunter, citizen,
teacher, etc, etc, etc. comes with a hat and most are worn all at once and
interchangeably.
At times some of them fit really well and some of the time
they don’t. We may have been given them and we like them or not. We all have
probably had the experience of a parent or someone in authority telling us we
had to wear something we did not like or feel comfortable in. But we can hold
on to them as empowered objects reminding us for better or worse. We might not
recognize or even see through the illusions they cast and can feel burdened
under the weight. For any one hat or role may be heavier than another.
Ever buy something on sale that was only okay, but it
caught your attention enough that you bought it anyway? Maybe you were only in
the mood for something new. And you have never worn it. It still sits in your
closet taking up valuable closet space and every time you move it goes with you
to the new closet.
Our illusions of what we look like in our hats, in our
roles may be off. They may dazzle but be distracting like the outfit that dazzles
and that is all you see, not the person. When what we are really looking for is
the outfit or hat that highlight, accentuate and bring out the best in the
person under it all. That is the secret that the great designers focus on.
Bring out the best in their clients.
Sometimes we wear something to hide in, cover up something present,
or something missing. Sometimes when we really closely look at the hat, we can
see the wear and tear and the now shabby surface, different from the new when
we got it, received it, bought it.
Some may only be worn once in a while, when some are worn
every day.
At times hats are part of a uniform and when we put it on
our head, we feel a part of something bigger.
Some are to create illusions of ourselves to keep safe from
others or from things out there. Like a white beekeeper’s head covering and
outfit. Keeps one from getting stung.
Some, like crowns, tiaras or mitres show others the entitlements
of position one holds.
Some, like baseball caps show our team spirit at times and
a way to show our support about something. And to cover up dirty or messy or missing
hair.
What ever the hat, whatever the role, we can assume that it
never hurts now and then to take a fresh look at how we are showing up in this
world and see how current we are holding onto our pasts. And checking in with an
open-minded friend and seeing what they might be noticing about you, the angle
of your hat and life.
I tip my hat to you.
Janet Barrett
Podcast host Journeys Into Enlightenment with Janet
www.janetandbeyond.com
janetandbeyondpodcast@outlook.com
