Being real

As a voluptuary, I’m always looking for creature comforts everywhere I go. That’s probably why I’m so fascinated by the self-care amenities some hotels offer their guests.

Last month, when I was at the Grand Hyatt in NYC, I was bemused by a little “kit” in the bathroom, called the Pampering Vanity Kit. Despite my not needing anything I thought would fall under that name at that moment, I had to open it and see what it contained. It held a few cotton balls, two cotton swaps, and an emery board. Verrrrry pampering, that.

This time (I was just there this week), I used the cotton swabs (necessity, not pampering), and took this snap of the whole contraption.

In truth, I would rather have a well-made bed (something Hyatt hotels can’t seem to do to save themselves), than a vanity kit—especially one filled with necessities that aren’t pampering. But it led me to think about presentation, and spin.

Everyone, I suspect, would prefer to make a good impression on others. Even people with a “you see what you get” attitude about themselves vis a vis the rest of the world probably hope, deep inside, that more people than not appreciate their genuineness. So the question came up for me as to why so many people in the professional world talk about authenticity, yet completely spin who they are, and what they do? Is it that, like Hyatt, spinning the mini grooming kit as the Pampering Vanity Kit, they feel they have to seem better, or bigger than they actually are, for people to find them interesting or appealing?  Or is it that we, as a society, expect the grandiose version of absolutely everything?

What do you think? I'd love to hear your comments!

Comments

[Sandra Trca-Black]

Could it be that they've forgotten who they really are? In the attempt to build a professional facade around authenticity, even they no longer remember what's underneath?