So here's my first official 30 Days of Truth post, which I found via more than one blog, but I'll search my Google Reader and post a few links, if you'd like. I'm sure you've seen them around, and some of the more stellar responses have gotten me to start thinking on the topics as well, so I figured - good topics? check; guaranteed NaBloPoMo posts everyday? Check; Deep thoughts? Also check. So here we are.
Day 01: Something you hate about yourself
Ugh. I feel like this list could go on forever and ever, and I hate that, for sure: that I'm not more happy with who I am or how I look or more comfortable in my own skin. Whenever I'm reading a book and a character is described just that way - "You could tell she was comfortable in her own skin" - I always think "But how? How did she get comfortable just being who she was? How is that even possible?"
I know it must be possible - I think I know enough people that are just who they are and that's that to know it is possible. But it seems like something that's possible for other people . Not for me. Maybe, some day. But if I'm being honest, I don't really think so. I don't really believe that I'll ever just be happy with how I look, or how I act. Or -if not happy, exactly - but happy enough.
Happy enough not to hate that I need to ask for help for things that I "should be" capable of doing. Happy enough not to hate that I can't drive myself (or walk myself) from point A to point B and have to depend on other people all the time. Happy enough to not hate the way I cry when I'm arguing with someone and how weak it makes me feel. Happy enough not to want to burn the piles down around me rather than hate how I procrastinate dealing with them.
Happy enough not to cringe when I see myself in the mirror in the morning. This is a new one for me, mostly because, at my house, what few mirrors we have are all at standing up person's eye level. If I want to look in the mirror, I have to make an extra effort, so I don't often look in the mirror unless there's a reason for it. But here at Grandmother's house there is a huge honking mirror in the little bathroom. I'm talking about an entire wall's worth of vanity mirror, so that if you were standing in the middle of the bathroom floor and stretched your arms out to the side to touch the walls (which you can do because that's exactly how small the bathroom is), you'd be able to see the whole thing in the mirrors. Which also means that you can see yourself from just about anywhere, including sitting down. And this is the only bathroom I have access to, and so, when I roll in there first thing in the morning, I see myself.
And I find that I am often not pleased with how I look. I even thought "holy crap: that's what you look like today. Ew" the other day. "Ew." Was an actual thought I had about myself, and it made me realize how harshly I judge my physical appearance. It's been on my mind ever since.
I knew I had issues with my weight - being on steroids and the Lyrica and god knows how many other drugs has definitely screwed with my poundage - but it usually only bothers me when I have to go shopping for something nice and nothing nice fits over my boobs. Or when I'm in a group picture - particularly one with all my sisters, and I realize I could put three of them together to equal me (almost, anyways). But, for the most part, it doesn't enter my mind - the good thing about having a body where you have to be measuring things against pain or exhaustion or sick levels in matter of importance is that you realize that being heavy does not equal the end of the world. Sure I'm a little bigger than I'd like to be, comfortably, but it doesn't physically hurt, so it moves way down on the list of things that concern me on a day to day basis.
It hardly ever even makes it onto the list, to be honest with you. I'm not generally embarassed by it and see no reason why I, or anyone else, should be - so it worries me that I can think so poorly about my appearance.
And it's not just the weight - it's the stuff I don't have the energy to devote to fixing: I'm lucky if I ran a comb through my hair twice last week (clip it up and be done with it is my usual motto), I don't wear makeup (although I could often use it) or nice clothes (nice and comfortable are apparently fashion's version of oil and water). I look... tired. And worn out.
And - even though I am tired and sore and worn out - I hate that I look that way. And I hate that it matters to me how I look at all, because if you had asked me a month ago, when I wasn't having to face myself in the mirror every day, I would've said it didn't bother me at all. I don't want it to bother me at all.
So I'm trying to look myself in the mirror now and think at least one positive thing, even if it's just "Look, you made it all the way in here, and you didn't think you were going to get this far today, so that's something" or "You have your mother's eyes, you know, so if you can't say those aren't pretty because she has gorgeous eyes. It's ok that they're tired today, they're still her eyes." Or - as was the case one day last week - "We are not leaving this room until you can think of something nice to say to yourself, you stubborn ass. Because if Lil Girl looked at herself in the mirror and thought "ew," even once, your heart would break, and the least you can do is figure out how to make the same be true for yourself."
I hate that I haven't figured it all out yet, I guess is what I'm saying.
Day 01 Something you hate about yourself.
Day 02 Something you love about yourself.
Day 03 Something you have to forgive yourself for.
Day 04 Something you have to forgive someone for.
Day 05 Something you hope to do in your life.
Day 06 Something you hope you never have to do.
Day 07 Someone who has made your life worth living for.
Day 08 Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like shit.
Day 09 Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted.
Day 10 Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.
Day 11 Something people seem to compliment you the most on.
Day 12 Something you never get compliments on.
Day 13 A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ass days. (write a letter.)
Day 14 A hero that has let you down. (letter)
Day 15 Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it.
Day 16 Someone or something you definitely could live without.
Day 17 A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.
Day 18 Your views on gay marriage.
Day 19 What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?
Day 20 Your views on drugs and alcohol.
Day 21 (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?
Day 22 Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.
Day 23 Something you wish you had done in your life.
Day 24 Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)
Day 25 The reason you believe you’re still alive today.
Day 26 Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?
Day 27 What’s the best thing going for you right now?
Day 28 What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?
Day 29 Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.
Day 30 A letter to yourself, tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself
3 comments:
I think framing it in terms of how you'd feel if your daughter was that hard on herself is a great idea. I mean, we're all somebody's daughter, you know, somebody's child? I have to remember to give myself the grace I would give anyone, especially those I love.
Wow, you've touched on so many issues here in one post! I hope you realize that our illness makes it even harder to look good and feel good about ourselves. It's hard to feel good about yourself when you can't get anything done (I have those same piles here!).
I never wear make-up either - just too much work. It was funny on Halloween - we all dressed up as rock stars, so I went crazy with the make-up (I had to buy some!) - black eyeliner, blue eyeshadow, etc. and when I walked out of the bathroom, my sons' jaws dropped! They're not used to seeing me that way.
OK...I'm moving onto the post about things you LIKE about yourself!
Sue
P.S. You are absolutely right about thinking how you'd feel if your niece responded to her image like you do - kids are a great way to keep us acting like the best we can be !!
What I hear you saying is that you hate the limitations that go along with your disease. You, just you, are nothing but love and caring and you are beautiful inside and out. Just my humble opinion.
Hugs.
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