Pretend Play!
As kids, we all have indulged in pretend play and been happy by exploring our imaginative side and living a part which is not reality, in true sense.
Trust me, talk to any grown up right now and have a meaningful conversation and you will understand that a lot of us are still playing this dam game- Pretend to the outside world that all is fine and you are doing ABSOLUTELY OKAY, and that becomes the way of living.
Its easier to just go numb and emotionless and just pretend to be fine and act according to others- It avoids drama in your life and gives 0 to no chance to anyone to disappoint you any further 🙂
For kids, pretending is a fun way to escape; whether they are superheroes, explorers, or pirates, it’s all about exploring the endless possibilities without worrying about being judged. The game is brief, enjoyable, and cheerful; after finishing it, you return to reality unharmed and whole. But as adults, the act of pretending takes on a different, much heavier role. It becomes a survival mechanism, a way to shield ourselves from the weight of our true emotions.
Rather than wearing a cape, we choose to smile to hide our vulnerability and act as though nothing is wrong. In contrast to children’s joyful pretend play, adult “pretending to be fine” is a protective strategy rather than an exercise in imagination. We build barriers around our true emotions out of concern that doing so will make us appear weak or let people down. And by doing this, we keep our actual selves buried under a facade of stability, trapping ourselves in a vicious cycle, frequently without even realizing the emotional toll it takes. As children it was supposed to be innocent and joyful, but now it’s a coping mechanism that causes us to lose touch with our own feelings. Maybe thats the new healing 🙂
“A day might come when we will sit down and have a meaningful conversation. Until then, let’s safeguard the walls around us, revealing a little to the world while keeping much hidden.”-RVA
