After my mother and sister both had skin cancer removed from their noses, I was determined to do whatever I could to lessen my chances of the same outcome. I shared the process on social media, partially to help others understand their options, but also to remove judgment so people wouldn't think I was just doing it to be vain.
After four months of laser treatments, a forehead full of Botox, and cheek and lip injections, I learned something about myself—I wasn't being vain, I was repairing the vanity of my youth. I was choosing to take pride in myself.
Getting stabbed repeatedly with teeny needles conducting radio frequencies into my face. NBD.
“Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.” – Mary Bennet in Pride and Prejudice
Covered in numbing cream pre-lip injections.
Even a hat can't hide swollen lips and a bright red face.
In case you couldn't tell from the posting of these photos, I don't care what other people think of me. I do, however, care what I think of myself.
It's not a bad thing to care for ourselves, including our appearance. To accept responsibility for the gift of these amazing bodies we have. If that means getting injected with Botox, so be it. If it means taking a laser to your face, go for it. If you’re tired of looking like the bearded lady from the circus, get hair removal for a silky smooth mug. If you are totally content with how you are on the outside, don't let anyone tell you you need to change, because what matters the most is what YOU think of you.
Being comfortable in your own skin is invaluable. If you need to set goals and make changes to have that happen, do it! But remember, transformations, whether emotional or physical, should all stem from self-care.
And for the record, I think you're pretty darn amazing just the way you are.
[For a chronicle of my laser treatments to help reverse sun damage, visit THIS POST on my other blog, Being Spiffy.]