The Weight of a Shadow

To stand against the light is to surrender the details of the face. We become outlines, ghosts of our own intentions, defined only by what we block out. There is a mercy in this. When the sun is too bright, when the world demands too much of our features, we can retreat into the dark side of our own skin. We are not meant to be fully seen. The most honest parts of a person are often those that remain in shadow, hidden from the glare of the morning. We spend our lives trying to step into the light, forgetting that the shadow is the only thing that proves we are standing on solid ground. If you were to lose your shadow, would you still be heavy enough to remain here? Or would you simply drift away, a pale shape against an empty sky?

Karthick Saravanan has taken this beautiful image titled Capturing Silhouettes. It reminds me that we are defined as much by what we hide as by what we reveal. Does the light feel heavier to you today?