Sometimes it’s hard to communicate that you want to have stronger boundaries with the people you care about. Boundaries are necessary for everyone, but I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings! That’s why I’ve started using the art of mime to illustrate and protect this need instead.
When I first started using the art of mime to establish boundaries, my loved ones definitely took notice.
Whenever they would want me to drop everything I was doing to listen to their problems, or do something for them that I didn’t have time for, I would silently spring into action, constructing large imaginary boxes around myself to communicate that I wasn’t comfortable with what was happening in the moment, or that I couldn’t hear them through the glass wall I had put up using perfectly proportioned object work.
Most friends and family members did not react very positively to my new self-care habit.
They would often say things like “Miming a rope between the two of us and then cutting it in half dramatically isn’t an effective way to communicate,” or “I don’t understand what you’re trying to say when you cover your ears and move your mouth like you’re yelling when I’m asking you to read my screenplay again,” but I will continue to use this technique anyway because I’m simply too afraid of any kind of confrontation. Also, I’m starting to fall in love with the artform!
Sure, miming my boundaries may not be the perfect way to get my point across, especially because I keep breaking out from this thick white face paint, but it’s still crucial for maintaining my own personal peace.
Using the art of mime to help establish healthy boundaries has given me a whole new lease on life! After all, how can anyone convince me to do more than what I’m comfortable with when I’m wearing a cute little beret?
