The Eyes May Be the Window to the Soul but How Do You Really Recognize Someone?

A Surprising Discovery From an Unmasked Face.

Recently I met a group of new people. I thought I knew what they looked like until I saw them without their masks on and realized I didn’t. The eyes may be the window to the soul but the face is how you recognize someone.

I have a new part-time job and in that process, I was interviewed by 2 people. Even though we were over six feet apart and separated by several conference room tables, all 3 of us wore masks in the interview room.

The interview went well and I was hired.

During my orientation, an HR rep stood at the front of the room. A cute, short, young woman with a sweet voice and chestnut-colored hair. She spoke to us for over an hour about the company, policies, and procedures. I stared at her for 60 minutes. Starting right at her. Her masked face, facing mine.

Then she slipped off her mask to take a sip of water and I realized — I wouldn’t even recognize this woman without her mask on. I really had no idea what she looked like. If I were to see her outside of this room, in a group of people, she may seem “familiar” but I wouldn’t recognize her.

It was a strange realization, it gave me a weird feeling.

The manager that sat in my initial interview and ended up hiring me was on vacation during my first week of work. One day during my 2nd week, I saw a man, wearing a red polo walking in and thought “is that him?” thinking that was possibly the man who interviewed me. He looked “familiar” but I didn’t recognize him. I didn’t speak to him. I was only slightly sure it “might” be him.

Later, as we gathered in our department to start working I realized it was him.

So maybe we can “slightly” recognize someone without seeing their unmasked face?

After these experiences, I understand why bad guys like bank robbers and convenient store thieves wear masks. They don’t want to be recognized. I understand why police sketch artists focus so much on facial features. It is the distinct details of our faces that set us apart. It is why you can think you know someone as you approach them from behind, only to realize when they turn around, it wasn’t who you thought it was after all.

After these experiences when I head out into the world all I notice is a sea of masks.

I smile behind my mask. I hope I never stop. Because I hope for a day when we can greet each other face to face again.

One positive from this “new normal”. I am intentionally looking at people.

Pre-mask wearing days I would often glide through my day staying in my bubble, even when in a crowd. Consumed with my phone, thinking ahead to the next thing I had to do. Rushing in and out checking off the errands on my list.

Now I look around.

I see people.

I look at them.

I try to look them in the eye.

I hope I never stop seeing people again.

In support of small business, and all business at this point masks are a must. Being pro-mask wearing or anti-mask wearing is not something I care to debate. I recently wrote this pro-mask wearing article supporting small business:

I am pro people connecting in community and for now, that means mask-wearing.

One positive from this “new normal”. I am intentionally looking at people.

These masks may make it more difficult, they may be cumbersome and honestly, I don’t like them. I am still trying to get used to them but I have hope for the future. We are resilient, we will figure all of this out and I have hope that in the long run, we will be stronger as a community.

Follow Average Alice on Medium and find more from Heidi on #thesosblog.