Unmasked
by Sarah Russell
I shivered when I took them off,
those masks of forty years —
goodgirlgooddaughtergoodstudentgoodwifegoodmother
goodgoodgood.
I stood naked in a new day.
Who was left?
Could I find her?
Would I love her?
Would anyone?
I set out to build a woman
without masks.
It took a while.
I lost people
and found others —
fewer than before.
They knew me when we met.
I knew them.
None of us wore masks.
All of us were naked.
But the sun was warm on our skin.
First published by Silver Birch Press (republished with author’s kind permission)
Every time I read Sarah’s poem, it lands in a new place for me. It speaks to the moment we realize the masks we’ve worn no longer serve us—and how both terrifying and freeing it is to begin shedding them.
For those of us focused on being good and making others happy, it’s easy to lose ourselves along the way. Over time, we drift further from our authentic desires, goals, and dreams. That’s not our fault. Society rewards us for how much we can juggle, for having few needs, and for being there for everyone else. The conditioning runs so deep, we may not even realize we’re wearing a mask.
But somewhere in midlife, a quiet voice begins to whisper: Enough.
Slowing down to listen to that voice can feel unsettling at first, but it’s also a gift. It’s the beginning of reconnecting with yourself and making space for wholeness. Slowing down might look like saying no more often, setting boundaries, or creating space for something that feels nourishing—whether that’s painting, journaling, or simply sitting still. Wholeness isn’t about becoming someone new; it’s about rediscovering the parts of yourself that have been waiting quietly all along.
Some people call this a midlife crisis, but I see it as more of an awakening. It’s when we realize the life we’ve built isn’t the whole story, and we’re ready to create something more aligned with who we are becoming. It doesn’t mean anything is wrong with who we’ve been or what we’ve done but this is a time to keep evolving. This is why you see people in midlife becoming artists, changing careers, or leaving relationships that no longer make them feel alive. It’s also when we begin to care less about what others think and focus more on what matters to us.
The masks are both exhausting and protective, and letting them go can be scary. But this isn’t about burning everything down overnight. It’s a slow, intentional process of getting into a deeper relationship with yourself—understanding what you believe, who you are, and who you want to be.
If you’re hearing that quiet call to shed your masks and reconnect with yourself, I’d love to walk with you through this process. We’ll move slowly, with compassion, so you can begin to discover what’s waiting to emerge.
