On Being Invisible

Sometimes I feel invisible. 

No, not sometimes. Most of the time I feel invisible. And much of the time, that’s OK.

Being invisible certainly has its drawbacks. Invisible people, and I count myself among them, are usually overlooked or ignored, whether by design or for some other reason. People tend to talk over us or ignore us. Simply put, invisible people aren’t listened to. Our opinions, our thoughts, really don’t matter. Obviously others recognize our existence, at least on some level. But they still overlook us. They often overlook our contributions. I also am a very forgettable person whom others tend not to remember. Over time, being overlooked can make people feel 'less than' or insignificant.

I often feel invisible. I have written this blog, posting regularly, for many years. Yet I have only a small handful of followers. People seldom post comments about my posts. Sometimes I wonder why I bother. But the truth is, I enjoy writing, and it provides a wonderful means of expressing myself. 

I have always been a quiet person who is never the most popular person around. I’m also a shy introvert, so going to parties and making small talk make me very uncomfortable. I am invisible because others around me are so much more outgoing and talkative. I’m also invisible because I live alone, and I like it that way. I don’t seek out other people. And being a short person contributes to my invisibility.

And although I have written this blog for several years, and I share a lot of my travel photos with others, I’m still pretty much invisible. I guess part of the problem is that I’m not at all good at self-promotion, and I have never been good at promoting myself.

Others I know are frequently recognized for their photographs, while I rarely enter any sort of competition. I have tried in the past, but after being rejected time after time, I gave up. I recently left an online photo group after watching others be praised for what I consider mediocre photographs. Why should I waste my time and get my hopes up? It's just easier to remain invisible.