Self Exposed

Here we are, on the internet, showing off so many different angles and aspects of ourselves. We consume and enjoy the various views and stimulations, seemingly unable to get enough.

But for a moment, I asked myself… how exposed are we really?

You see, I have long believed that the body is the easiest part of our humanity. It is the part that is exposed to everything in some shape or form. Sure, we clothe it in most situations, but our body is the one thing that everyone we encounter will see.

For those of us who are brave enough to show those more intimate parts that are usually unseen by the masses, we can feel pretty damn exposed. I know that exposure firsthand now, and it is indeed something.

But there is a deeper exposure still. And that is the exposure of the mind. It is the exposure of how we think, what we feel, and what we are truly made of. This is generally exposed in very limited quantities, to those we have a more intimate connection with.

Unless you’re like me, and expose yourself to the “world.” Truthfully, that world is still quite limited, shared mostly in my little slice of the internet. But each time I write something and share a bit more of who I am, what I think and what I feel… I am opening myself up a little more in vulnerability to the masses.

I think for some, it is easier to expose the mind than the body. I know for me, that was very much the case. But I still struggle at times with just how much I offer to you… the vast unknown person who just comes across my profile. You have the opportunity to know more about me than I will likely ever know about you.

And much like the intimate photos posted, I lay myself out there for your enjoyment – and for your judgement.

Exposing yourself to strangers is quite a vulnerable process. Whether in photos and videos, or in the written word, people can consume the image of you in whatever way they want. They can say things that will make you want to no longer be that vulnerable. Or they can be encouraging, uplifting and give you one hell of an amazing gift.

So when you come across a photo or a writing that shares something you may not normally be privileged to, stop for a moment and truly realize that which you have been offered. That person chose to self expose, and that was done in a way that allows you to enjoy. Encourage it in your responses, but not always in the way you may think “fits.” Understand that for many of us, we do this because we feel a need and desire to be seen, but we also feel the sting of the judgment, and the hurt over your self-gratifying words. If you want more of it, do your part to let us be seen and enjoyed, or you may find you no longer have access to that which we want to share.