Friday, October 5, 2012

[The #30WriteNow October Writing Challenge] On Invisibility

Today's prompt, if we choose to use it, is Invisible. I forgot to look up what the prompt is, since I have been working wee into the night. And am shocked that it is almost 130a. I guess time to speed write...
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If someone stood up in a crowd
And raised his voice up way out loud
And waved his arm and shook his leg
You'd notice him

If someone in the movie show
Yelled "Fire in the second row
This whole place is a powder keg!"
You'd notice him

And even without clucking like a hen
Everyone gets noticed, now and then,
Unless, of course, that personage should be
Invisible, inconsequential me!

Cellophane
Mister Cellophane
Shoulda been my name
Mister Cellophane
'Cause you can look right through me
Walk right by me
And never know I'm there...

I tell ya
Cellophane
Mister Cellophane
Shoulda been my name
Mister Cellophane
'Cause you can look right through me
Walk right by me
And never know I'm there...

Suppose you was a little cat
Residin' in a person's flat
Who fed you fish and scratched your ears?
You'd notice him

Suppose you was a woman, wed
And sleepin' in a double bed
Beside one man, for seven years
You'd notice him

A human being's made of more than air
With all that bulk, you're bound to see him there
Unless that human bein' next to you
Is unimpressive, undistinguished
You know who...

Cellophane
Mister Cellophane
Shoulda been my name
Mister Cellophane
'Cause you can look right through me
Walk right by me
And never know I'm there...
I tell ya
Cellophane
Mister Cellophane
Shoulda been my name
Mister Cellophane
'Cause you can look right through me
Walk right by me
And never know I'm there
Never even know I'm there.

Hope I didn't take up too much of your time.

Source: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/soundtracks/c/chicagolyrics/mrcellophanelyrics.html


I still remember distinctly watching Chicago, the famous Broadway musical. Some of the songs I heard once and stuck with me for a lifetime. One of them is the "Mr. Cellophane" song. It was so brilliantly sung and acted out, it described in multiple levels of emotions what it means to be invisible. He just swayed back and forth with his hand in front of him, palms outward to the audience singing "Cellophane, Mister Cellophane Shoulda been my name."

I remember how ironic the song felt, but yet how empathetic I felt towards this character. Even after leaving the show, that little annoying twinge came back in the most unexpected moments: watching a child cry on a busy New York street, because she thought she had lost her parents; how a brilliant violinist was playing in the subway, but everyone just walked past him without a token or nod of appreciation. I wondered if they felt invisible.

After all, a person has basic needs towards feeling loved, appreciated and remaining relevant. It's a question that most of us face at one point or multiple points in life - am I relevant? do I matter? what's my purpose?

And when those questions are hard to answer, we become more self-conscious and can start doubting ourselves.

To take it one more step further, I ask myself what's my impact? How do I influence or make an impact within my team, my company? Or what kind of social impact do I make onto my family, friends, relationship? Or even society?

Except there is one key to impact and influence: gain visibility. It's the actual opposite (or negation) of invisibility.

That's all I have for now. I'll go chew on that for a bit. Maybe I will finish my thoughts out here in another post....but for now... Good Night!

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