The Masks We Wear. (3 min 3 sec)

This image is more than a clever visual of exaggerated Pinocchio noses; it’s a profound metaphor for life, attachment, and the illusions we carry. On the surface, it depicts an elderly woman surrounded by family in her final moments, but beneath the surface lies a story about truth, ego, and letting go.

At the center of this image is the elderly woman — likely nearing the end of her life. Her expression is one of peace, suggesting that she has let go of the attachments and illusions that once weighed her down. She is not concerned with the “stuff” that those around her may be clinging to; she has transcended the need to hold on.

Sickness and death provide a unique clarity. When we approach the end, the ego begins to loosen its grip, and the truth of what truly matters — love, connection, and presence — shine through. The woman, perhaps seeing life from this clearer perspective, is no longer caught in the chaos that surrounds her.

The exaggerated noses of the onlookers symbolize the lies of the ego — the masks we wear to protect ourselves from fear, guilt, and vulnerability. These masks are the identities we project, the facades we uphold to maintain control, status, or attachment.

As the woman finds peace in her final moments, those around her are still entangled in the ego’s web. They cling to the illusion that possessions, roles, or external validations matter, and they struggle with the discomfort of mortality. Their Pinocchio noses reflect the ego’s inability to face the truth without distortion or projection.

The child, notably without a Pinocchio nose, represents innocence, purity, and untainted perception. Unlike the adults, the child is not weighed down by fear, guilt, or the illusions of the ego. This highlights an important truth: the innocence and clarity we seek are already within us, though they become buried under layers of conditioning as we grow older.

The child reminds us that our essence, free of ego and illusion, is always present. It’s not something we need to acquire — it’s something we need to uncover.

The adults’ Pinocchio noses may also symbolize guilt — a feeling that arises when we intuitively sense that something about our attachment to the material world is off. They may feel conflicted about the sickness, death, or the inevitable loss of the “stuff” the woman leaves behind.

This highlights a key dynamic of the ego: it clings to the fleeting and the impermanent while ignoring the eternal truths of love, connection, and unity. Their guilt may stem from their subconscious recognition that they are focused on the wrong things.

The “Stuff” That Doesn’t Matter

The image subtly critiques the ego’s obsession with “stuff” — material possessions, status, and the things we think define us. The Pinocchios are too attached to the things of the world, believing they hold real meaning. Yet, as the woman peacefully lets go, the image reminds us that these things are illusions.

Possessions, identities, and even our bodies are temporary. They cannot define us, nor can they bring lasting happiness.

Death as a Mirror

The approach of death acts as a mirror, forcing the ego’s masks to fall away. The Pinocchio noses, with their exaggerated length, suggest that the truth — however uncomfortable — cannot be avoided.

The elderly woman, in her peace, shows that liberation comes not from clinging but from letting go. She has stopped fighting the illusion and embraced the truth.

Lessons from the Image

This image is a meditation on the illusions we live with and the truth we often avoid:

The Ego Distorts: The Pinocchio noses show how the ego projects its fears, guilt, and attachments onto the world, keeping us trapped in illusion.

Truth Never Changes: The woman’s peace reminds us that truth is unchanging, eternal, and always accessible when we let go of the ego’s grip.

Innocence Remains: The child symbolizes the purity and clarity within us all, waiting to be rediscovered.

Attachment Breeds Suffering: The more we cling to “stuff”— material possessions, roles, or identities — the harder it is to see what truly matters.

A Final Thought

In the end, the image asks us to look inward: What are the Pinocchio noses we wear? What illusions are we clinging to, and what truths are we avoiding? Like the woman, we can find peace not by speeding up or holding on tighter, but by letting go.

Death isn’t the end — it’s a reminder of what’s real. The truth doesn’t change. And the closer we get to it, the less we need the masks that keep us from seeing it.

#thinkgod
I am sorry.
Please forgive me.
Thank you.
I love you.