Mirror, mirror on the wall...
It's easy to count all my flaws and imperfections when I look at you. It's easy for me to study my face closely and beat myself up over the smallest blackhead. Or curse myself over the scar by my eye from that time I busted my eyelid open in preschool. It's easy for me to look at my body and compare it to all the women I see in commercials and on magazine covers. It's easy for me to see what other people see when they look at me, and it's especially easy to feel ashamed of myself.
Mirror, mirror on the wall...
I know I'm not gorgeous. I've been told so before. I know I don't have a "bikini body." That's no secret. I know I'm not without my flaws. My acne scars and stretch marks are constant reminders.
Mirror, mirror on the wall...
I don't have a lot I want to thank you for. You've torn me down more times than I can think. I've felt bad looking at you more times than I can remember because you show me everything that's wrong with me. It seems like you're always trying to highlight every part of me that wouldn't be defined as perfect. Every scar, every hair, every pimple, every marking — they're all there when I look at you. You smack me in the face with a dose of reality.
Mirror, mirror on the wall...
But that's only sometimes. Only sometimes do I feel vulnerable and full of flaws. Not all the time do I look at you and wish I was a different person or had a different body. Sometimes, I feel happy when I look at you. At times, I look at you, and I feel confident. Like I said before, I don't have a lot to thank you for. However, there are things I can, and should, thank you for.
Mirror, mirror on the wall...
You allow me to look at myself and smile. You allow me to look at myself whenever I want and tell myself, "I am beautiful." You allow me to get dolled up, and by doing so you let me feel confident in myself. I can put my hair up, leave it down, curl it, straighten it. I can put on mascara, eyeliner, concealer, foundation. I can choose to wear an outfit that's bold, one that's casual, one that shows how tired I actually am. I've learned how to accept the flaws you've brought into light. While I can look at all the negative things about me, I can also see everything positive as well. If I so desire, I can also stare at myself for as long as I want because I feel and look beautiful. I can accept everything I see, good or bad.
So, mirror on the wall, I want to thank you. You've made me feel awful about myself, but you have also made me feel like a goddess. You've made me feel both vulnerable and invincible. You're there for me through it all. You're there showing me what I don't want to see, but also showing me how exquisite I am.
Thank you for it all (but especially the good),
Reflections and their owners
