The invisible man

It is impressive to consider the power of the mind and the brain in particular for many reasons. One of them is that whenever you focus on something, it grows, repeats itself, and remains in sight. While the rest becomes almost imperceptible, it does not exist; it is invisible. As humans, it happens to all of us; we might not be aware of it.

Many times, as children, we would ask each other what our wish would be if it could be fulfilled. Many of us, including me, always thought that being invisible would be great, because I could see women changing or naked without being discovered. I also thought it would be great to rob banks without being seen. Anyway, being invisible allowed me to skip some rules to fulfill some wishes.

As time passed, the allure of invisibility lost its charm, while some related desires could have persisted. Alongside these, there were more innocent wishes, like dozing off in a dull class or sneaking out of school. Dreams, they say, are free. However, sometimes they can become a reality, albeit in unexpected ways. This shift in perspective was a revelation, a realization of the implications of invisibility that I had not considered before.

After struggling through life in numerous projects, ventures, and countries, I finally arrived in the USA, just as the COVID-19 pandemic was coming to an end. So, I had to get vaccinated against my will; otherwise, I would not have been allowed to travel. During the trip, I was never asked for proof of vaccination. What a rage! Everything about COVID-19 seemed to me to be a scam. For me, it is one of the strategies of mass media coordination by the AP (Associated Press) to instill fear and achieve coercion in the population, that is, to get people to do things they would not do under normal circumstances.

So I arrived in the U.S. vaccinated and full of illusions. I came to conquer the American dream. I started as a volunteer in a hotel where I worked a couple of hours in the morning in exchange for a bed to sleep in and basic food. I stayed there for six months while working jobs elsewhere during the time I had available. I worked in a hotel laundry, where I washed and folded towels and sheets. Fortunately, ironing was not necessary. The hotel General Manager was terrible, always putting herself first at he cost of her employees.

Later, I got a much better job in a Restaurant, the best Restaurant in town. There I was, a maintenance manager. Among these tasks were cleaning internal and external floors, tidying specific areas, performing various repairs, and disposing of garbage. They paid me well for my expectations and also allowed me to experience what it's like to be an invisible man.

Working in these conditions, many people did not see me. Incredibly, they saw through me. That is, they were talking directly to me, but in reality, they were addressing the person coming behind me, who was thinner than I was. However, they were seeing her, not me. Many times, I was happy for a greeting that wasn't meant for me. When that happens, you often start to realize that you are invisible to many. It's not easy to assimilate, and I'm not complaining. Upon reflection, I know that many other people have been invisible to me in the past. If this doesn't happen to me, I would continue to overlook details of human behavior that can make a significant difference.

Today, after working for more than two years in this Restaurant, I believe that I am not invisible, especially since I was recently promoted to a part-time office position.

I have learned a lot. I know from my own experience that circumstances can make me invisible to many. That's how the human brain is. Now, when I go to a supermarket and see an "invisible" security guard, I try to greet him and make him aware that I'm aware of his presence. I know that this gesture can make a difference in this person's day.

Of course, the realization of my childhood dream of invisibility did not bring the joy I had expected. Life, they say, is full of surprises. Especially when it comes to people, we all have dignity and deserve to be seen, and that is my lesson learned. We must be mindful of who we are making invisible. Our brain can be our best friend or our worst enemy, let's not let it diminish a person to invisibility. Every individual, regardless of their circumstances, deserves to be recognized and valued.