My dear friend Jennifer and I were just IMing each other a little while ago. I don't feel as though a day is complete without her popping up in my chat window for even just a few minutes.
Somehow we got on the topic of plastic surgery and we began to type out all the things we'd have done if we could. Our combined list included: Breast augmentation and lift, liposuction, nose job, lip collagen, eye lift, hair thickened (is that plastic surgery?), and more and more and more.
Suddenly I stopped typing and sat in thought for a moment. Then I wrote the following:
You know what's really sad?
We're lovely.
Seriously, what wrong with us? With women as a whole, I mean. Why do we pick ourselves apart until we're just puzzle pieces that make up a greater whole?
I can stare into my magnifying mirror for what seems like an eternity. Why? It's not vanity. I look at every line, every mark, every spot of redness. I stare. I pick at it. I lotion with day cream, night cream, SPF cream, eye cream, body oil, body cream. I'm so greased up, it's a miracle I don't just slide out of my bed.
I have spend hundreds upon hundreds of dollars to find the best concealer, foundation, powders, mascara, liners, shadows, and more. And for what? To still resent the reflection in the mirror.
The hardest part is, how do you change? I have been this way since I was a little girl. I can still remember one of my aunts telling me when I was about 10 years old that I shouldn't worry about the the bump in my nose because I could have it fixed when I was older. Do you know how much I hate my nose? Everyday I place my finger over the bump in it to see how much better my profile would look without it.
How do we begin to see ourselves as other see us? How do look in the mirror and see something lovely?
Somehow we got on the topic of plastic surgery and we began to type out all the things we'd have done if we could. Our combined list included: Breast augmentation and lift, liposuction, nose job, lip collagen, eye lift, hair thickened (is that plastic surgery?), and more and more and more.
Suddenly I stopped typing and sat in thought for a moment. Then I wrote the following:
You know what's really sad?
We're lovely.
Seriously, what wrong with us? With women as a whole, I mean. Why do we pick ourselves apart until we're just puzzle pieces that make up a greater whole?
I can stare into my magnifying mirror for what seems like an eternity. Why? It's not vanity. I look at every line, every mark, every spot of redness. I stare. I pick at it. I lotion with day cream, night cream, SPF cream, eye cream, body oil, body cream. I'm so greased up, it's a miracle I don't just slide out of my bed.
I have spend hundreds upon hundreds of dollars to find the best concealer, foundation, powders, mascara, liners, shadows, and more. And for what? To still resent the reflection in the mirror.
The hardest part is, how do you change? I have been this way since I was a little girl. I can still remember one of my aunts telling me when I was about 10 years old that I shouldn't worry about the the bump in my nose because I could have it fixed when I was older. Do you know how much I hate my nose? Everyday I place my finger over the bump in it to see how much better my profile would look without it.
How do we begin to see ourselves as other see us? How do look in the mirror and see something lovely?
1 comment:
You are right on all counts. You are lovely, and we don't see the imperfections you notice. But we all see the worst in ourselves.
It's this country. Ever notice how in Europe, kitchens are old and out-of-date? Yet they are charming. Here, a kitchen has formica and mismatched appliances and people freak out saying it needs to be updated? WHY? it works! It's just a crazy aesthetic we are all trying to keep up with.
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