Am I the Only One Who Sees This?

What you see in the mirror is not what other people see. What if I told you when I look at my legs in the mirror, I see “chicken legs” because that’s what someone called them in high school. I see dimples because I’ve been tracking the cellulite on the back of my legs, also since high school (that has now traveled to the front of my legs, thank you very much). I also see warts and veins. That doesn’t even cover what I see when I look at my chest in the mirror (most of y’all know my “one boob story”).

I’ve had the unique opportunity to work with lots of women who bravely tell me what they see in the mirror. And every single time, what they see is not what I see. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I either simply don’t see it, or I don’t see it to the extent they see it. I’ve learned so much being on this side of styling. I’ve learned I’m not the only one who sees things differently on myself, which has inspired me. I ask these women to believe me and not let what they “see” define them or change the way they dress. But I can’t say these things and not practice them myself, right? That’s why I’m wearing the short dress without hose, and I wear the v-neck tee and off the shoulder blouse, even though my chest is hollow on one side. One of the many good things about aging is that this comes a lot easier to me now.

Recently, I had the honor to speak to a few teenagers and their moms at an NCL Mother Daughter Tea. I was so grateful for the opportunity to get to tell this message to that room. I wish someone had told me this message when I was a teenager. Maybe it would have made me think, “am I the only one who sees this?”.