When I look at my naked body in the mirror I can see a map of my life.
At first I only focus on the imperfections. Then as I look around at my curves I begin to notice special spots that remind me of some really good living.
The left side of my belly has stretch marks because during pregnancy my son would lay on that side. When I smile, I see lines around my eyes and lips. When I was in high school I decided that I was no longer going to smile to avoid wrinkling, that lasted for about a week. I can’t help it, my resting face is a smile.
At times, I have considered plastic surgery. I have been to a few different doctors for estimates but never go through with it. This decision is made for two specific reasons. Firstly, I have no tolerance for pain! And secondly, I once painted a single room in my home thinking that would give the house the sprucing up I desired but what actually happened is the rest of my house just looked older and more worn then before. So I do my best to shift my perspective and thinking to all the amazing living I have done in this body and then I feel grateful and happy.
And as my mother always says, “If you don’t get older, you die.”