🌱 TREE 114: Fear no mirror

‘Can you be happy with the movies, and the ads, and the clothes in the stores, and the doctors, and the eyes as you walk down the street all telling you there is something wrong with you? No. You cannot be happy. Because, you poor darling baby, you believe them.’

—Katherine Dunn, Geek Love

Sifting through years of old photographs, one thing is clear to me now. I never saw in the mirror what I can see in the pictures. Back then I believed I was never thin enough or pretty enough. I was never enough of anything for myself. Low self esteem is a liar and a thief. It steals your happiness and wastes your time.

While I now struggle with the physical manifestations of ageing, I no longer hate mirrors and I give them less power over me. Despite some painful reminders of times where I wasn’t happy, I am grateful for the photographs I appear in as I am not completely absent from the illustrations of my life’s story.

Self portraits are a wonderful way for people to come to terms with themselves. To mark where they are in life. Sure, with social media there is pride and vanity aplenty, but I want my kids to know, there is no shame in liking what you see in the mirror.

This week’s guest photographer and author is the remarkable Rachel Devine.

As always, the FOREST is wide open for comments and conversation. Click any of the links at the top of the email.

Grow slowly.
Jeff

‘You're gonna be just fine’

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