Driving down a quiet road out of town, I noticed a sign for a local senior agency. It was an ordinary moment, yet something about it stayed with me. The photo on the sign featured a woman, her face lined with sadness. Her eyes told a story that words couldn’t capture, and it made me pause. I began to wonder: how many people carry sadness or struggles behind veils of normalcy?
Maybe the friendly man at the bank, always quick with a smile, spends his evenings supporting a loved one through an illness. Perhaps the clerk at the grocery store, who always looks tired, is balancing her job while caring for both her husband and her aging mother. And then there’s the world of social media—so full of smiling faces and cheerful updates. Yet, how often are those posts a carefully crafted veil, hiding the struggles and heartaches that play out behind the scenes?
We’ve all done it, haven’t we? We smile, we push forward, we do what’s expected of us—even when our hearts feel heavy. Sometimes it’s easier to wear the veil than to reveal the full depth of our emotions. But at what cost?
I’ve come to realize that these veils we wear can sometimes make us feel even more alone. When everyone around us seems happy, capable, and untouched by hardship, we might hesitate to let our own struggles show. And yet, the truth is, so many of us are carrying something unseen.
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on what it might mean to live with fewer veils. To let others see more of who we are—not just the polished, “I’m fine” version of ourselves, but the raw, real, and human side too. Because when we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, we give others permission to do the same.
Even small moments of connection can help lift the veil. A genuine “How are you?” or an extended moment of kindness can be a lifeline to someone who feels invisible. The next time we pass someone with tired eyes or a forced smile, what if we paused and truly saw them?
That drive out of town left me with a reminder I needed: behind every veil is a story waiting to be heard. And maybe, just maybe, we can be the person who helps someone feel seen.
I would love to see some of you join us at an upcoming Care Circle. The support in those groups is tremendous ~ no one should ever walk these paths alone.
Hugs,
Cyndi