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.

So what’s the big deal? You’re now 40 instead of 39!

A split second moved your age from one year into the next, yet nothing changed
except your self-image.

When our nephew was living with us he went to bed one night as a 5 year old. The next morning he woke up as a 6 year old and ran to the scales to weigh himself, then to the mirror to see if he’d grown. He burst into tears because nothing had changed!

Your body isn’t any older today in relation to yesterday than it was yesterday as opposed to the day before. So work on building your age-esteem! – Only your self-image has changed.