What about human life?

Remember the first time you tried on a Halloween Costume, or a costume for a play? Have you seen an infant getting used to clothing and social conventions? Remember the first time you tried a new food, or a new job, or a new relationship? Remember the first time you had sex? Remember the first time you rebelled against your upbringing, told a lie, or cheated on your spouse? Remember as a teen how you felt the first time you tried a new fashion or persona? Have you ever been in a theatrical production or performance situation?

All of the examples above are ego manifestations. Ego is the collection of some traits and the lack of others that (we believe) make us who we are. But when you look at the examples above, and I'm sure you can think of many others, you realize that you have been several different people just during THIS lifetime. And the people living around you can remind you of others you've been, too!

Of course, we don't want to believe this. We want to believe that there are some traits we choose and others we don't. But human life is just as authentic and just as artificial as a costume party or a high school clique. Harsh.