For many years when I looked in the mirror, I saw mostly discomfort, awkwardness, and low self-esteem. I didn’t see beauty and I never felt attractive. I felt jumbled on definitions of internal and external beauty. I focused on my scars, my vampire teeth and overbite, and my unibrow. Nothing positive stared back at me. I squinted my eyes trying to shake how I saw myself, yet the imperfections hogged the limelight.
No one can accuse me of peaking early in life. In fact, I didn’t peak until my 40s. It was worth the wait. It’s tough trying to teach my teen and tween sons this lesson now. I’m pushing 50 and when I look in the mirror these days I see something vastly different than what I saw in my younger years.
Now when I look in the mirror I see a woman with a voice. I see a woman who views being called opinionated as a virtue. I see an opinion that is valued, and sometimes even sought out. I see a woman who is educated and dedicated. I see a wife and mother who fiercely protects and loves her family. I see a woman with a cadre of dear friends and confidantes. I see a woman with a tribe of fellow world changers who boost her and keep her in check. I see a woman who does some heavy lifting in the world, perhaps not physically but certainly socially, emotionally, and mentally.
Now when I look in the mirror, though I might not see beauty in the traditional sense, I see beauty in confidence. Now when I look in the mirror I like the person looking back at me. I’m pretty proud of the person looking back at me. I see a woman with so much left to do.
What do you see when you look in the mirror?