The Icy Interview.

My palms were sweaty and my belly bounced around as butterflies flapped like crazy inside whilst my breathing was all a "huff-huff". Why? I couldn't figure it out. It was just an interview: a handful of questions about the person I thought I knew, right? Wrong. The Job World. The world that holds our ambitions so tightly in its grip. Some of us needed to take a detour and then re-route just to get to where it is we thought we wanted to be. Nevertheless, whether it's the work place we want to be at or not, we inhale our breaths like air into a balloon (the only difference is- we have to remember not to tie the knot- and exhale) and we put our best heel forward.

I walked with my knees like jelly, like any second they were going to give way so that I could greet the ground. Nervous smiles plastered on my face until eventually I made it into the room. Cold- like all of a sudden winter only existed in that room. A list of do's and don'ts sped speedily through my brain. "So, tell us about yourself?" came the first voice. Like ice, my brain literally froze and I was dumbfounded as to who I was before I entered the cell of a hopeful job. Frozen, everything about myself was chilled in a distant memory that I couldn't reach. Rolling labels off my tongue seemed like the easiest thing to do: "I am friendly, I like writing..."

As I spoke, it seemed as though body language wouldn't play its part. I wondered if my mouth even twitched whilst talking. Did I blink? I couldn't remember. "So, why should you be considered for the job?" came another voice. Why was I here again? Oh yes! Because I am smart, hard-working and driven. The words seemed to solidify as each word froze as it fell off from my tongue like frost bite. Blank stares- like ice holding silence trapped inside its cold icy state.

Sub-zero hit. A silly answer and laughs filled the air like hot steam breathed out on a chilly morning. The steam like smoke seemed to blow it's air into my face and I couldn't breathe. A giggle escaped my throat to hide my already nervous being. "We'll let you know," came the ending to the Ice Age. My hand like snow shook the end of the interview and I could breathe again. I hastily breathed the warm air into my welcoming lungs. "What just happened?" I questioned my busy brain.

When the stars popped out, I resolved myself to change my attitude. Winter doesn't last forever. I have to believe that anything is possible. I have to be like a parrot- if all else fails. When the nerves kick in- all I have to do is confidently remember my lines, smile with courage, and put on a red carpet performance to match my paperwork! After all, I did all of the theory, I just have to prove that I can put it all into practice. Last but definitely not least, I should always stash a little bit of sunshine under my arm.The moment I introduce myself to say: "Hello", I should shine like the star that I am.

Secret veils

Most people classify a veil as a dark material used to cover something that we don't want anyone to see. In some parts of the world, the veil is seen as honoring one's beauty and modesty and protects us from others but, more importantly- ourselves. A veil can hide what we so desperately do not want others to see and yet it can empower one to an extent that one can be blinded by one's own flaws.

Not seeing a person's eyes, nose and mouth along with its natural expressions can cause the one on the receiving end much frustration. To hear a laugh but see no smile; to see the head tilt in thought but see no understanding of the question; to hear a gasp but not witness the surprise, for some people this goes against natural human interaction. Underneath that dark material is someone who listens, sees and observes the majestic world as much as someone whose face feels the wind freely. Under that mysterious layer is someone who dreams, who hopes and who fears; whose childish nature longs to dance in the rain.

Imagine, for a moment, in your world of dreams that those closest to you had their faces veiled. All that mattered was that which your soul wished to express. No one judged your expression whether you were judging them. No one sought to force you to say anything you didn't wish to say, because you wouldn't be able to tell what their expression was trying to tell you. Imagine a time where all a friendship was grounded in was what our faceless personalities revealed and our clothes and status meant absolutely NOTHING. How well will your soul speak for you?

A veil is not only something physical. Those of us who wear our faces for all to see, wear veils too. We disguise ourselves in different situations as what we believe is best suited in that time. We hold back when others walk with the their hard shoes on our fragile feelings. We react, without expression, when we try so hard not to judge another's choices. And we willingly choose not share a lot of things about ourselves in fear that we might be darkly judged.

Our lace cover-up conceals our secrets, our fears and our ambitions. Our hidden thoughts are kept back by our see-through veils as our eyes investigate our surroundings. Some people think that only a physical veil can create a barrier. Whilst some people do not even consider those of us whose veils are the glistening mystery in our eyes. Our veils are a symbol of modesty, of a beauty that, when only the eyes are exposed, we truly recognise within ourselves.

Secrets: Something we fight so dearly to protect. They stick so closely to our hearts, they are those mysterious moments that we would rather it remain unknown. Our dreams: That happy place we snooze into which drives our ambitions. Our dreams: We keep close to our hearts. Our fears: Keeping those dreams like secrets in a pillow to protect it in fear that someone might stumble over it.

Our veils give us courage to believe that we are more than what we appear to be. Our dark veils conceal our happiness, our sadness and our anger. But our high-pitched laughter, the sparkle in our dazzling eyes which creep up without our permission, that is our truth. Who needs to be dolled up? Our natural appearance are who we are and we are bootyliciously beautiful! Let's respect all kinds of veils, yours might be see-through and the girl down the road might have a physical veil. Common ground: WE ALL WEAR ONE. Which one is yours? Lace, satin, bright-coloured flowers or natural see-through?