What the mirror says to me.

Sometimes 

I do not

look at it.

My reflection.

When I was younger

I looked all

the time,

to see 

what I could

make smaller.

What I 

could change.

If someone

made a 

small comment

I would look

at myself

to see if

I could make

my reflection 

be those

words,

or phrases.

As I got

older I would 

look at 

my reflection 

and continue to

try to be better,

smaller.

Smaller

quieter

more agreeable.

When I got to 40

my body

my mind

were both 

exhausted. 

They could take

no more of 

the voices.

I laid down

my exhausted body 

for 4 years

worried 

that I might

just give up

and die.

I stopped looking

at myself for 

7 years.

I did not need

to.

I was being reborn.

remade.

It did 

not matter

what others 

said,

or thought.

I still heard

my voices.

I still heard

others 

telling what 

they thought 

I should 

look like.

Be.

I was cleaning the 

other day and 

I looked at myself,

finally 

after 7 years.

As I wiped 

the dust 

away from

the mirror

I saw who

I had become.

I stared in silence

and started to look

at myself.

All of me.

I was struck.

and silenced.

I had become

older.

7 years in fact. 

I had become,

beautiful.

When did 

this happen?

My cheekbones

were perfect,

My lips, legs

tummy and 

butt. Wow! 

I rubbed my eyes

just to make sure.

I went to 

a different mirror

and I was 

still there.

Me.

I had lost myself

for 20 years

and it is as

I picked up where I 

left off. 

I sat and laughed 

and smiled 

at who I had

become.

It was 

what the

Mirror 

had said to me

that made me

smile. 

It said 

Hello 

my old

friend.

Welcome back

and enjoy 

your beautiful 

life.