Beauty is truth’s smile when she beholds her own face in a perfect mirror. –Rabindranath Tagore
I stand in my bedroom and stare at my image in the full length mirror. I’m wearing my Victoria Secret bra and underwear. Just standing there. Staring. Knowing that I will be damned if I will stand in front of the mirror stark naked. I do that as little as possible.
As I look at myself I see all the flaws. I don’t see the pretty, almost wrinkle free face, the blue eyed, blonde goddess that people say I am. I see the sagging skin, the tiger stripes from having children, the deflated boobs from extreme weight loss.
I see the stretch marks from weighing 325 lbs over a year ago. I see the sagging skin under the upper arms, not the magnificent biceps that I’ve sculpted with weight training and lifting 100 lb. dogs at my grooming job. I see the empty skin of a stomach that used to protrude from being so obese. It’s now empty but will never really recover the muscles and shape from when I was young and thin. Not without surgery anyway. I refuse to have surgery. To alter the progress that I’ve made. It is my Badge of Honor. It reminds me of all of the incredible work that I’ve done. The progress I’ve made. The positive changes that have happened in my life in the last year.
I see dented skin on my inner thighs. Even with all the running, the exercise, the leg presses, they will never look like I want them to. But my calves, my calves they are exquisite. Those I’m proud of.
No, surgery is not for me. I’ll take the flaws. I’ve worked hard for the flaws. For in them there is beauty. In them there is strength. In them there is proof that I worked my ass off. Oh and I’ll make sure to wear a girdle, and pretty bras, and pretty corsets. For even though I live with these flaws, there are ways for me to still look ravishing……
we all have flaws. we all have beauty. love is seeing the beauty, not the flaws.
Oh Rich isn’t that the truth? Love can certainly conquer all…..
as long as there’s pretzels. and water. maybe tissues. oh, and ice.
🙂 Oh yes you have to have all of those things along with love….
ice for the swelling when you’re so close to each other that you occasionally clunk heads. pretzels and water are obvious. and tissues.
🙂
You’ve come a long way and have much to be proud of… Kudos!
Thanks dear sweet Maggie.
I’m sure you look perfect!
Perfect, no. But then I’ve never wanted to look perfect. I’ve only wanted to be content and confident with how I look. I’m sure with time I will become more confident and content…..
Wow Renee, you are so brutally open. Needless to say YOU are the product of all you’ve been through, and you’re still here and still beautiful. Be proud of who you are always. x
Thanks so much Stu. I was reading it to Roger Darling last night before I posted it. I asked him if I sounded arrogant. He said no, you sound honest. He said who cares what people think, post it. So I did. And look what all of you did? You liked it for my honesty. So thank you Stu. Thank you. xoxo
Beautifully said. The world would be so much better if more people could love themselves. Keep loving yourself!!! Great post!
Thanks much Kadeen. I don’t know if I love myself yet, but I’m getting there…. I really am…..
It was my pleasure!! P.S., you’re closer than you think, with acceptance comes love for all that each aspect of you represents. 😉
That’s very true Kadeen. Very true.
I can relate to this. I look in the mirror and only see the flaws. I feel my beauty is a thing of the past and the man I love will choose another younger more perfect version of who I used to be. Surgery is not for me either. Crows feet be damned.
Exactly Susannah. I like my crows feet. I have them because I smile all the time. I smile even when I’m crying. There’s so much about life to smile about. To be happy about.
Yes there is. It’s nice that you reblogged that piece.
Susannah it’s my piece. I wrote it honey. I lived it.
Everyone have their flaws, but you have to keep loving yourself no matter what! An awesome post! 🙂
Thanks so much for the kind words. I think it’s one of my best. Not trying to toot my own horn, but I think I’m getting the hang of this writing thing. 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend.
You’re welcome 🙂 haha, yeahh.. Hope to see more of your awesome writings 🙂 You have a wonderful weekend too 🙂