Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Mirrors and Self Image

Yesterday I read this amazing post from Julie @ The Mom Slant (formerly MotherGooseMouse, you really should go check out her new site) and it really got me thinking.

As an adult, I have never purchased, nor installed, a full length mirror. Unless it came with the apartment, I have never seemed to need to see all of me at once. Which may explain a little of how I got where I currently am. Well, maybe not, but you never know.

In my office building, in addition to the bathroom mirror that makes me look amazing, there is also a large bank of mirrors on the first floor. I don't go there very often, choosing to enter the building via skyway instead. Today though I found myself walking past the mirrors and taking a good look at myself. I realized that since the last time I paid any attention, a lot had changed.

I liked what I saw.

Other people may see the flabby tummy, the sagging boobs (though I hope I have a good enough bra they don't see that), the recovering stretch marks. I see the thirty pounds I lost. Five to ten pounds on someone with twenty to lose can seem like a lot, but it is hard to see when you have one hundred to lose. Thirty you can see.

My face is thinner, my neck more graceful again, I think I may have lost a chin (I hope). I see somebody worth investing in. I'm putting an effort in to my work clothes (hard when you need to be professional and still crawl under desks). It is time to care enough about how I look to be willing to look at myself in the mirror every morning. It is time to see when the clothes are getting baggy and I need to get new ones that fit better. It is time to see all of the chins go away. It is time to enjoy the gray hair I've earned. It is time to give a damn.

Now I just have to find somewhere to put it.

15 comments:

Karianna said...

Excellent! I also don't have a full-length mirror... yet.

Julie @ The Mom Slant said...

Yay! YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY!!!

This makes me so happy that I'm sniffly. You go, Ms. Sprout.

CatrinkaS said...

Very nicely done, and well said. I love the optimism in it. You can, you will. You are.

Heather said...

Congrats on your weight loss so far, and kudos to your optimistic attitude. It will serve you well I'm sure of it.

Velma said...

This is a lovely affirmation. :)

Boston Mamas said...

Go YOU! So happy you are seeing all the beauty and good. -Christine

Bill/Daddy Is Tired said...

Hooray for seeing the differences...30 pounds, yay! Body changes, yay!

Congrats!

Tree said...

Great job! More important is the inward transformation.

Rebecca said...

Yay! It is so wonderful to read this. We all should be pleased, at least some of the time, when we look at ourselves in a mirror. I'm glad to hear you are there.

Anonymous said...

Tears, smiles,and how about the hall closet door?

confused homemaker said...

I use to have one & haven't for a while. I felt so displeased with my changing maternal body that I hide from it, now I want to regain that sense of who I was. Not in terms of body but confidence, maybe it's time for me to look in a mirror. Great post & it gives me the kick I need.

Jill said...

Good for you! Everybody needs an ego boost like that from time to time and how can we say we get one from a giant bank of mirrors! Way to embrace yourself and your success!!

Magpie said...

I don't have a mirror, and perhaps I should. I have a disconnect between what I think I look like, and what I do look like. Good job on your poundage lost.

Susan said...

That's awesome! Happy investing!

The Fritz Facts said...

That is wonderful! Congrats on the 30, such a huge accomplishment!

Mirrors are something you get when you are ready, so cheers to you!!