Looking in the Mirror

Yesterday I was rushing around, trying to get a few things cleaned before the baby needed another bottle (While I LOVE that she is eating so much, 2 hour windows between feedings make it hard to get much done!)  I happened to glance at myself in the bathroom mirror.

I stopped and just looked. I can’t remember the last time I really looked at myself in the mirror.  I saw my face, the lines, the shadows, the tired eyes.  And I stopped.  I was transported back to high school, so many years ago. I would spend so much time looking in the mirror.  I think I knew every crease, fold and pimple on my face before they even appeared.  All these years later, inspecting my face is not high on my priority list.

It made me think though.  I love the lines in my face now. Each line speaks of time, experience, life.  The shadows right now speak of sleepless nights, getting up with a baby.  I have longed for those sleepless nights for a while.  It is my pleasure (most nights!) to get up and be with our baby girl.

See, as I’ve gotten older, the appearance of life is something I am embracing.  Now if I look like a raisin too soon, I might not be so excited.  I love that my face reflects my life.  I am a mother of three.  I work hard. I run in the sun (and yes, I do wear sunscreen but years without have taken their toll to a degree).

Stop and look sometime at your face.  When we really look into our own eyes, there is a lot of soul and love to be seen.  It’s a pretty wonderful thing to reflect on ourselves, good, bad or ugly–this is who I am and who you are.  Isn’t it amazing?