Mirror, Mirror

“Mirror, Mirror on the wall; who’s the fairest one of all?”

Wow! Snow White’s stepmother, the Queen, was really over-the-top in the department of vanity, huh, girls? Just imagine looking in the mirror every day and trying to measure up to oodles of woman out there. And with the media today splashing perfect-looking women on every billboard, TV screen and magazine cover, I bet some of us are.

When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

Model Tyra Banks hosts and produces the show America’s Next Top Model, where natural characteristics embodied in a woman like freckles and curves are flaunted and praised.

Tyra says, “I think you should find at least one thing that you love and embrace that.” Oh, she goes on: “I hate my cellulite, but I love my boobs!”

Good for her! And she’s right.

The response was on Good Morning America a few months back to discuss the pros and cons of one of the latest crazes out there now – “mirror fasting.” Have you heard of it?

In another perspective, Better Homes and Gardens states, a mirror can quickly turn from a practical tool (“Do I have spinach in my teeth?”) to a springboard for self-criticism (“Uh, I hate my neck!).

So in an effort to increase self-confidence and self-awareness as well as awareness of others and the relationships around you, some women are saying bye-bye to all reflective surfaces for a week, a month and even longer.

This trend has spawned tons of news coverage and a major book deal for 36-year-old freelance writer, blogger and author Autumn Whitefield-Madrano (How My Mirror Fast Landed Me on the Today Show – and My Thighs on National Television). She appeared on 20/20, with insightful articles written in The New York Times and on The Huffington Post.

“It gave me a lot of serenity,” said Ms. Whitefield-Madrano. “I hadn’t realized how much I used the mirror as a life raft to see that I looked ‘normal’ when things weren’t going well. When I took it away I had to be really be honest with myself.”

And in turn she focused more on important issues like work and her relationships.

So I ask myself, would I swear off all mirrors? It might be kind of a fun experiment at some point, but I like Tyra’s point of view on the subject, to find what it is you love about yourself and embrace it.

Don’t base your self-worth on your appearance in the looking glass everyday before you walk out that door; I mean, I get it, we all want to be beautiful, but isn’t it more important to put the make-up on our insides?

As moms and working professionals, our lives demand so much that sometimes we lose sight of who we are. Catering to children, husbands and full schedules, our identities vanish in the air and yes, we might look in the mirror one day and say to our reflections, “Who is that girl?” “Who have I become, and who did I use to be?”

And that’s okay, right? Just as long as you realize she’s you. And maybe sometimes we step away and abandon ourselves for the good of our families, our loved ones who need us and our jobs. I know it doesn’t help when we see that extra line, puff around our eyes, frizzy hair or those lovely strands of silver that pop out like springs.

We might have a warped thought or two about ourselves with everything that happens around us, and sometimes it’s a journey just to find our way back. But we’re women and we have strength to persevere and to triumph!

So whether it’s Mirror, Mirror on the wall or off, it’s about loving yourself and those around you and not focusing on those little imperfections – because God knows we all have them – but taking care of what’s inside and seeing just how much true beauty we can radiate!

Ciao Bella (Beautiful)

Posted by Janel M. Harrison on January 10, 2013. Filed under Columns,Girl-2-Girl,Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry