--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How can I look so real everyday, when…" description: "\"“How can I look so real everyday, when really I'm just a cardboard cut-out image of myself-lamenated in coats of artifical happiness with shiny plastic..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/elizabeth-heller-14143_everyday_how-can-i-look-so-real-everyday-when-rea_2680907.jpg" --- # How can I look so real everyday, when really I'm just a… ![“How can I look so real everyday, when really I'm just a cardboard cut-out image of myself-lamenated in coats of artifical happiness with shiny plastic all around- so quite I should be a mime- I wrap my arms around myself when I go out in the wind because I don't know how to make sure that I won't…” quote by Elizabeth Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/elizabeth-heller-14143_everyday_how-can-i-look-so-real-everyday-when-rea_2680907.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/elizabeth-heller-14143_everyday_how-can-i-look-so-real-everyday-when-rea_2680907.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/elizabeth-heller-14143_everyday_how-can-i-look-so-real-everyday-when-rea_2680907.jpg) > ““How can I look so real everyday, when really I'm just a cardboard cut-out image of myself-lamenated in coats of artifical happiness with shiny plastic all around- so quite I should be a mime- I wrap my arms around myself when I go out in the wind because I don't know how to make sure that I won't blow away- and I'm standing with my eyes closed so I won't have to see the ground when I fall...”” [Elizabeth Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-heller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker feels detached, presenting a false, happy façade while fearing vulnerability and loss of control. **In simple terms:** I hide behind a fake happy mask and fear falling. Key Takeaway Recognize and express authentic feelings. Themes identity vulnerability performance self‑protection Mood melancholic reflective Type poetic confessional When to use this quote - social gatherings - personal introspection - creative writing Key Concepts masking existential anxiety self‑image Questions to Reflect On - What parts of your daily life feel like a performance? - How can you safely lower your mask? A Different Perspective The metaphor may over‑dramatize everyday insecurity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Everyday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everyday/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes I love you, sometimes I hate you. but everyday I really miss you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-love-you-sometimes-i-hate-you-but-everyday-i-really-miss/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We were just standing there, and her eyes were so interesting. Not in the usual way of being interesting, like being extremely blue or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/we-were-just-standing-there-and-her-eyes-were-so-interesting-not-in/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“I could see tall ideas standing up behind his eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/i-could-see-tall-ideas-standing-up-behind-his-eyes/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [It's like going to the gym everyday. It really is. I work hard on my craft, I sweat a little bit, I run a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-long/it-s-like-going-to-the-gym-everyday-it-really-is-i-work-hard-on-my/) [Nia Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-long/) > [“He stood in front of me now, on the other side of the table, and I found myself standing, too. Both our eyes filled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sweet-evil-wendy-higgins/he-stood-in-front-of-me-now-on-the-other-side-of-the-table-and-i/) Sweet Evil Wendy Higgins > [I miss you everyday even though your not really mine I love you more each day even though you dont know I need you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanna-woodward-mee/i-miss-you-everyday-even-though-your-not-really-mine-i-love-you-more/) [Alanna Woodward (mee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanna-woodward-mee/) > [“Horror on earth is real and it is everyday. It is like a flower or like the sun; it cannot be contained.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/horror-on-earth-is-real-and-it-is-everyday-it-is-like-a-flower-or/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [My emotion is real, and my everyday life is filled with the same feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sister-rosetta-tharpe/my-emotion-is-real-and-my-everyday-life-is-filled-with-the-same/) Sister Rosetta Tharpe > [In real everyday life, I don't walk around feeling fat and if on TV I'm considered fat, honestly, I kind of like it, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kether-donohue/in-real-everyday-life-i-don-t-walk-around-feeling-fat-and-if-on-tv-i/) [Kether Donohue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kether-donohue/) > [“I'm a little worried... Brave New World seems a bit more real everyday. . .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solange-nicole/i-m-a-little-worried-brave-new-world-seems-a-bit-more-real-everyday/) [Solange nicole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solange-nicole/) > [If you want to get your children's attention, just look real comfortable, talk on the phone,or try to have a conversation with an adult.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-want-to-get-your-children-s-attention-just-look-real/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Like cubic zirconia, I only look real. I'm an imposter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/like-cubic-zirconia-i-only-look-real-i-m-an-imposter/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [When you watch stuff that is YA, it looks like it's been made YA. It doesn't look real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-langford/when-you-watch-stuff-that-is-ya-it-looks-like-it-s-been-made-ya-it/) [Katherine Langford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-langford/) > [Look at the real prodigies, and I look like nothing compared to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/look-at-the-real-prodigies-and-i-look-like-nothing-compared-to-them/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [God made the Illusion look Real and the Real an Illusion !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/god-made-the-illusion-look-real-and-the-real-an-illusion/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) ## More by Elizabeth Heller > [“I wonder what my last words to you, the only boy I have loved, will be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-heller/i-wonder-what-my-last-words-to-you-the-only-boy-i-have-loved-will-be/) [Elizabeth Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-heller/) > [“I want things to be like they were before...but even better. I want you to not leave this time...please don't break my heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-heller/i-want-things-to-be-like-they-were-before-but-even-better-i-want-you/) [Elizabeth Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-heller/) > [“I'm sinking quicker than you could ever imagine. I'm wishing. I'm falling blindly in the dark. I'm crying because I have known that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-heller/i-m-sinking-quicker-than-you-could-ever-imagine-i-m-wishing-i-m/) [Elizabeth Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-heller/) > [“Its the littlest things that make me stop and remember you. Like that old song we always used to listen to, me in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-heller/its-the-littlest-things-that-make-me-stop-and-remember-you-like-that/) [Elizabeth Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-heller/) > [“CAN YOU SEE? The first... Tear once I found out that you left without a goodbye? The first... Drizzle of rain drowning all my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-heller/can-you-see-the-first-tear-once-i-found-out-that-you-left-without-a/) [Elizabeth Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-heller/) > [“I'm lost in a sea of smiles as laughter echos all around me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-heller/i-m-lost-in-a-sea-of-smiles-as-laughter-echos-all-around-me/) [Elizabeth Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-heller/) > [“Now he was the freshmen in college while she was stuck in highschool being the sophomore. She was left behind hearing about him, watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-heller/now-he-was-the-freshmen-in-college-while-she-was-stuck-in-highschool/) [Elizabeth Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-heller/) > [“A gentle kiss on the lips is like the breath of a fallen angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-heller/a-gentle-kiss-on-the-lips-is-like-the-breath-of-a-fallen-angel/) [Elizabeth Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-heller/) > [“That summer her memories were turned into melodies as he sung his way to her heart <3”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-heller/that-summer-her-memories-were-turned-into-melodies-as-he-sung-his-way/) [Elizabeth Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-heller/) > [“I think the hardest things is going to be letting go. Letting go of all my friends. Letting go of the person I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-heller/i-think-the-hardest-things-is-going-to-be-letting-go-letting-go-of/) [Elizabeth Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-heller/) > [“Before we know it, its all going to be over so fast. Too fast for us to even realize what was..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-heller/before-we-know-it-its-all-going-to-be-over-so-fast-too-fast-for-us-to/) [Elizabeth Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-heller/) > [“When I first met him I didn't want to look into his eyes because I knew I would be able to tell how he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-heller/when-i-first-met-him-i-didn-t-want-to-look-into-his-eyes-because-i/) [Elizabeth Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-heller/) > [“So maybe you were that guy that I always talked about. And maybe just maybe everyday I secretly hoped you would figure it out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-heller/so-maybe-you-were-that-guy-that-i-always-talked-about-and-maybe-just/) [Elizabeth Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-heller/) > [“Why would he want to put a stain on a white sheet? Why would he want to taint a love that has never been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-heller/why-would-he-want-to-put-a-stain-on-a-white-sheet-why-would-he-want/) [Elizabeth Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-heller/) > [“I am smiling in pictures without you..It might be a smile that does not reach my eyes just yet, but it's a smile and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-heller/i-am-smiling-in-pictures-without-you-it-might-be-a-smile-that-does/) [Elizabeth Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-heller/) [Explore all 47 Elizabeth Heller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-heller/) ## More Everyday quotes > [I love you with all my heart, but I didn't know true love hurts so hard, I love and I miss you, every single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-love-you-with-all-my-heart-but-i-didn-t-know-true-love-hurts-so/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Babe, I hear that everyday. all I can do is pray your not losing interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyfe-jennings/babe-i-hear-that-everyday-all-i-can-do-is-pray-your-not-losing/) [Lyfe Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyfe-jennings/) > [Everyday happiness means getting up in the morning, and you can't wait to finish your breakfast. You can't wait to do your exercises. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-burns/everyday-happiness-means-getting-up-in-the-morning-and-you-can-t-wait/) [George Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-burns/) > [When you're being truly creative, time stands still, and you enter a dimension that can carry you beyond the ordinariness of everyday life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-linn/when-you-re-being-truly-creative-time-stands-still-and-you-enter-a/) [Denise Linn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-linn/) > [Photography's potential as a great image-maker and communicator is really no different from the same potential in the best poetry where familiar, everyday words,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-caponigro/photography-s-potential-as-a-great-image-maker-and-communicator-is/) [Paul Caponigro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-caponigro/) > [I love fashion. I like dressing how I feel, and my music shows how I feel - they go hand in hand. My performance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/i-love-fashion-i-like-dressing-how-i-feel-and-my-music-shows-how-i/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [I miss our conversations, I miss how we used to talk every minute of everyday and how I was able to tell you everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-miss-our-conversations-i-miss-how-we-used-to-talk-every-minute-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Literature transforms and intensifies ordinary language, deviates systematically from everyday speech. If you approach me at a bus stop and murmur Thou still unravished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/literature-transforms-and-intensifies-ordinary-language-deviates/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [As for the forces, electromagnetism and gravity we experience in everyday life. But the weak and strong forces are beyond our ordinary experience. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-witten/as-for-the-forces-electromagnetism-and-gravity-we-experience-in/) [Edward Witten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-witten/) > [Life on a small farm might seem primitive, but by living such a life we become able to discover the Great Path. I believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masanobu-fukuoka/life-on-a-small-farm-might-seem-primitive-but-by-living-such-a-life/) [Masanobu Fukuoka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masanobu-fukuoka/) > [Everyday is a book-full of untold stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert/everyday-is-a-book-full-of-untold-stories/) Albert > [I'm just trusting my work. Putting it in everyday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-m-just-trusting-my-work-putting-it-in-everyday/) [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/) > [Often I'm told I'm an inspiration to people which I will forever be grateful for. But the reality is that I'm only able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzie-velasquez/often-i-m-told-i-m-an-inspiration-to-people-which-i-will-forever-be/) [Lizzie Velasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzie-velasquez/) > [Everyday is a gift never take it for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyday-is-a-gift-never-take-it-for-granted/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 3,473 Everyday quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everyday/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“How can I look so real everyday, when really I'm just a cardboard cut-out image of myself-lamenated in coats of artifical happiness with shiny plastic all around- so quite I should be a mime- I wrap my arms around myself when I go out in the wind because I don't know how to make sure that I won't blow away- and I'm standing with my eyes closed so I won't have to see the ground when I fall...”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elizabeth Heller" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-heller/how-can-i-look-so-real-everyday-when-really-i-m-just-a-cardboard-cut/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Everyday" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-heller/how-can-i-look-so-real-everyday-when-really-i-m-just-a-cardboard-cut/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/elizabeth-heller-14143_everyday_how-can-i-look-so-real-everyday-when-rea_2680907.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/elizabeth-heller-14143_everyday_how-can-i-look-so-real-everyday-when-rea_2680907.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/elizabeth-heller-14143_everyday_how-can-i-look-so-real-everyday-when-rea_2680907.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“How can I look so real everyday, when really I'm just a cardboard cut-out image of myself-lamenated in coats…” — Elizabeth Heller", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Elizabeth Heller", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-heller/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“How can I look so real...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-heller/how-can-i-look-so-real-everyday-when-really-i-m-just-a-cardboard-cut/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-heller/how-can-i-look-so-real-everyday-when-really-i-m-just-a-cardboard-cut/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```