Stereotype Psychic: Please don't judge a book by its cover!

Is this what a psychic really looks like?

When I see some of my clients for the first time, I notice the surprise look in their faces when I open the door. I find it remarkable how many people expect a middle aged woman wearing a loose fitting dress with bangles, earings, and of course, the turban to open the door to greet them!

One of my clients asked me: "Hi, is your mother home?" When I told her that I'm Maria Haswell - she paused for a second, and looked at me up and down before she politely reached her hand out and said "Nice to meet you, I didn't expect you to be so normal."

I live in the suburbs and I consider my house to be warm and inviting with modern art hanging on walls. I don't have a colorful beaded curtain, a crystal ball, and definitely a loose fitting dress like the one you see on the picture above. I have two awesome kids (12 & 14), a husband in the software business, and a really cool dog (Shepherd mix). I consider myself a typical family house mom who cooks dinner for their family (sometimes), drive the kids around (sometimes), and do wife duties (sometimes) - LOL! I have everyday normal issues like everyone else.

One of my clients said to me the other day when I met him was that he was expecting an older lady with long gray hair, wearing a long dress with birkenstocks on. It made me laugh but it also made me think about how many people stereotype psychics, mediums, tarot readers like me out there... I wonder if I wore "the part" would I get more clients? Then as quickly as I wonder it stops because I know that I have to be ME. I'm proud to be who I am and what I represent. It is definitely entertaining sometimes to see clients surprised - I just laugh and I say - "Please don't judge a book by its cover!"

I end my post with a quote by Travis Smiley:
"Take your focus off of how others see you. Cease being obsessed with the need to impress your friends and your foes. Keep your concern on the vision you see in the mirror. Don't allow the approval of others to obstruct your view of you."