Mirror, mirror on the wall:
Well, I do know I stole this line from the famous Snow White, but I just had to. You, my dear mirror have become my biggest enemy. I can't even look at you without feeling sad. It seems like every time I try to sit and embrace what I see in you, I just look away.
I see the flaws and the wrinkles in my soul and in my face. I look at how lifeless and dry my hair and my smile have become. I criticize every nook and cranny in my face and feel unhappy and less fulfilled.
Why is that, oh Mirror? Why do you force us to take a closer look at ourselves; not just our physical self but also our mental self? Why can't I ever see something beautiful when I look in your eyes?
I wish as humans we were less hard on ourselves. I wish we could see the beauty that lies in years of struggles and finding ourselves. Why can't I see myself as a person who isn't perfect, but isn't even looking to be perfect, someone who is always surrounded by the love of friends and family and someone who has been able to follow her passion no matter what life threw at her. Maybe I have a few wrinkles here and there, but it's because I love to laugh out loud, even when I'm not supposed to and I can laugh at myself when I do something dumb. I have been told that I have kind eyes because I believe in compassion and kindness and helping others. Maybe I don't look like the fashion models that I see in magazines or on TV, but (hey, Marilyn Monroe wore the same size jeans as I do!) I try my best to stay healthy and active. Maybe I don't have long, flowy hair but I do have shoulder length hair unlike many of our loved ones who suffer from cancer and lose their hair.
As humans we need to be more accepting of ourselves. We accept the flaws in our parents, children, siblings, friends and partners and still love them, yet we are so hard on ourselves. We want to look perfect, have a perfect house, perfect job, perfect kids and a perfect life. Why do we run after unreal perfection? Why can't we just feel beautiful in our own imperfect skin?
So starting today, let's fall all over in love with you, my dear mirror. Show me the flaws that have made me so perfect, the lines on my face that enhance my beauty and the imperfection that are just me!