Why Don’t Vampires Like Mirrors?
You’ve probably heard that vampires can’t see their reflections in mirrors and thus tend to avoid them — it's a classic part of their cursed nature. But what if there's more to it than just a supernatural quirk? What if, deep down, the reflection they’re avoiding is themselves? After all, mirrors don’t lie, and they can show us the truth, even if we don’t want to see it.
At the same time, we often only see what we expect to see. You have an opinion of yourself before you look, and looking may only allow us to affirm our confirmation bias — we ignore anything that doesn’t support our expectations. So if we expect to find flaws, we will only see those and nothing else.
And mirrors can’t show us what’s deep inside. When people criticize us for including disabled people as heroes in D&D and other TTRPGs, they’re only looking at the surface. I could list people all day long who are not disabled but are also not heroes. Heroism comes from inside. That’s not just a pithy expression. Heroism is knowing your values, facing insurmountable odds, and fighting until you achieve your goals, especially goals that focus on making the world better (whether for someone else or for your own well-being — you can’t fill others if your bucket is empty). And quite often, the vast majority of that fight is internal — rolling those saving throws while you cling to hope.
But look closer into that mirror, and you’ll see more than just your reflection. You’ll see the people around you—the ones who have your back, even when you feel completely alone. My ADHD helps me focus, but in so doing, I forget about those who always back me up and roll initiative with me.
Don’t fear the mirror — it helps you know yourself. But take in the whole picture. What has escaped your notice? What can’t it show you? And who has your back? |
