When I Look in the Mirror
Image from fabulousmirrors.co.uk: https://www.fabulousmirrors.co.uk/x-large-heart-mirror-stunning-ornate-elegant-mirror-with-decorative-roses-new-47924-p.aspThis prompt can be quite difficult for me to dive into. Usually, it’s something that people do every day without a second thought is look in the mirror. Whether they’re getting ready for the day, taking a “mirror selfie”, or feeling ashamed of their appearance, looking at their reflection, are they happy with who they are at the end of the day?
Image from wallpapercave.com: https://wallpapercave.com/broken-mirror-wallpapersI know when I used to look in the mirror, I have seen so many flaws. Maybe it’s just words that I’ve heard many times that cut deep and that my appearance needed to be fixed. My eyebrows were too bushy, my hair is way too natural, I could lose weight, I needed to wear heels to look taller, I should’ve worn the latest fashion, and even more things that I felt needed to be changed because I was too fixated on listening to who everyone else wanted me to be. I know that always being judged for how I looked was a huge part of my social anxiety. Was I too weird? Should I try to make myself look more attractive? Why was it so hard for others to see who I was on the inside? Since when has quirkiness, and kindness become bad traits? It’s heartbreaking that we live in a world that values vanity, social media has become a constant black hole of conceitedness, and the beauty industry focuses on people’s insecurities. So much noise and people trying to conform others to look “hot as fuck”. Noise that I’m tired of listening to and making me feel less of a person.
Image from pinterest.com: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/636555728562285509/When I look in the mirror now, I see someone comfortable with herself. Someone who surrounds herself with others who match her weirdness and love the person she is. I also wish to see the woman I want to become instead of the woman everyone else wishes they could mold me into becoming. I want to one day be a woman who’s still happy with who she is and is at a great place in her life. Someone who is living a good and simple life. A wife and mother who’s doing the best she can for her family. Someone who isn’t feeling like she’s at her breaking point every other week and knows when to work hard and when to take a break when needed. I wish to see someone humble yet knows who she is and what she’s capable of. A woman who doesn’t let negative and judgemental people bring her down.
Image from dreamstime.com: https://www.dreamstime.com/question-mark-drawn-finger-misted-window-question-mark-symbol-misty-mirror-water-droplets-image183040281Looking in the mirror is a simple task, yet can be so difficult for a lot of people. A piece of glass only sees the outer part of you. This is a common cliche, but it’s true is what’s on the inside counts. Your overall character is something that I wish a mirror could reveal, good and bad traits. That way, people could concentrate on changing their toxic traits, and be satisfied with their good traits. If seeing your inner self ever becomes a reality, I can’t wait to see it. So readers, do you feel happy when you look in the mirror? Are you truly happy with who you are and the person you are on the inside?
[image error]When I Look in the Mirror was originally published in CRY Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
