Invisible in Plain View.

Copyright © Mark R Kelly 2025

Invisible in plain view kind of makes sense if you think about it. If truly invisible, you could be in plain sight, just invisible to those present.

This is how I see myself – and I’m sure many others see themselves this way too, though not aware of it. To clarify, at work people see me: my colleagues and the patients. Difficult to miss.

But here is the plain truth – they do not see the true me. They see what I allow; the rest I guard jealously and protectively, something I have nurtured and honed since my early days of junior school. In later life, working in various aspects of security only added more layers to the unseen armour I wear.

As for work colleagues, and by extension, those close enough to be considered friends, they see me with two sets of eyes – one set sees what I want them to see, and the other sees what they want to see: the superimposed personality they presume I am.

But you, dear reader, have the dubious honour of seeing the part of me those I mentioned do not. This is what I refer to as being ‘invisible in plain view’ – you read my innermost thoughts, feelings, musings, shared experiences, and snippets of my life, yet you do not see me. I am present in your mind, yet so far removed physically.

That is the beauty of writing: allowing your inner voice to flow, your soul to unfold, and the things fluttering within it to take flight. And you, my reader, gaze on as they soar through your imagination, set free and without limitation. For that, I am very appreciative and glad to have you here. Your presence is ever welcome.

Once, during a karate training session, our instructor took a moment to dispense a portion of his accumulated wisdom. Standing in front of the class one evening, his Gi slightly ragged and tattered around the cuffs and various edges of his heavy karate suit, his decades-old belt now worn almost white, he said, “You are three different people: you are who you are, you are who people think you are, and you are who people want you to be.”

That has stayed with me ever since and holds so true. Once you accept this, people’s behaviour towards you makes so much sense, as do the reasons for the things they say and do around you.

To that end, you, who are reading this, will have coalesced your own idea and image of who I am, the person behind these words. It’s what we do. But here is the truth: you are, in essence, walking through my mind when you consume my words. There is no pretence in them. I find peace and harmony in writing. When it is fiction, I will announce it. Otherwise, it is my true voice, thoughts, and feelings, minus the physical.

I hope, in some way, however small, this resonates with you. I like to think it offers food for thought and reflection, a moment to see yourself under a soft light, not hiding, not posing – just being.

If you see a bit of yourself here, I’d love to know.

Here is a classic from Billy Idol - "Eyes Without A Face".