My Self-Image

When I look down at myself I see the ‘me’ that has been there since I grew up, same height, same weight. This ‘me’ can still out-sprint my seven-year- old grandson, (though he is now showing that he can go further than me), swim faster than him, (though relative size might play a part in that), ride horses better than most people, work longer hours, delight in being silly, and still enjoy active life in a whole-hearted way.

Then I catch a glance of my entire self in a mirror, and I see an almost complete stranger. My self-image reflects the person I feel inside, happy, confident, probably humming a song in my head. The image in the mirror is of a grumpy-looking, care-worn old woman, and I see the ‘me’ that others see. My self- image has tactfully omitted to have a face.

Now my financial resources would not stretch to pay for radical cosmetic surgery and in any case, I am not sure that that would be really ‘me’ either. I may hanker a bit for the benefits of the odd tweak here and there, and a dental makeover would certainly be a great improvement, but I don’t think I would like to go further than that. No, the real change needs to come from within. I must allow my inner cheerfulness to be reflected in my expression so that I become more in harmony with my outward image.

From Images© by VM. Shared with the author’s permission.