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I have a confession
to make to all my young readers. Lately, I have been a hypocrite. Allow
me to explain. I preach stress reduction, body love and acceptance in
every single one of my articles but when it comes to my own body - well
- I’ve been having a hard time taking my own advice. Sure, I accept
the fact that I’m not a super model. I accept the fact that my chest
isn’t a Double-D and I have NO INTENTION of ever doing anything
surgically about that. As long as I am eating right and exercising and
I look good according to my own standards, then I am happy with what I
see. I thought I had come to terms with the mirror a long time ago.
Then in October 2006, I underwent laparoscopic surgery and was diagnosed
with stage 1 endometriosis. Endometriosis is a painful, chronic disease
that affects 5 1/2 million women and girls in the United States and Canada,
and millions more worldwide (click
here to learn more about how endometriosis affects teenage girls and
young women).
After years of suffering major pelvic pain and other yucky symptoms I
was relieved to finally have a real medical diagnosis. It wasn’t
just “all in my head.” However, I was so stressed out after
my surgery that my skin broke out like I was 13 years old all over again.
I had horrible acne when I was a kid and I was teased mercilessly for
it. Every time I looked in the mirror back then I started to cry and cursed
the imperfect reflection.
Fifteen years later, here I am back in front of the mirror, cursing the
imperfect reflection. I’m growing a business. I’m meeting
with clients. I am a role model for teens. How am I supposed to act confident
with acne all down the sides of my face? I have been hiding out in my
apartment. When I pass people on the street, I hide my face with my hair
(smart move considering the chemicals I put in my hair to keep it frizz-free!).
To be able to face my family over the Christmas holiday, I wore a lot
of makeup, which probably only made the problem worse.
Scars that I had buried years ago are now staring me square in the face
and it’s not pretty, both literally and metaphorically. “I
think you should try rereading some of your articles and take your own
advice,” my 27-year-old husband said to me last night with a sympathetic
nod of the head. He was right. It was time to try a new approach. I went
to my mirror this morning, cupped the sides of my face with my hands and
said, “I forgive you.” Cheesy? Yes - but it worked. I smiled
at my reflection in that stupid piece of glass for the first time in weeks.
And took back control over my life. What a gift to give myself first thing
in the morning!
If you ever start to curse any of your supposed imperfections, try to
take these words to heart: The acne will heal, the pounds will melt, the
scars will fade; but the image you have of yourself lasts a lifetime.
So make it a good one.
Do you:
• Ever find yourself preaching body love to your friends yet have
a hard time following your own advice?
• Believe that the world around you notices your flaws as much as
you think they do?
Shoot me an email and let's
discuss this. I love to hear from students!
About the author:
Maria Pascucci is the President of Campus Calm - the award-winning online-forum for today's stressed-out students, and their parents and educators. Download your Student Life Stress-Less Kit with 4 FREE gifts at www.campuscalm.com.
Want to reprint this article in YOUR own website?
You can as long as the article remains complete and unaltered (including
the "about the author" info and link back to
www.campuscalm.com), and you send a copy of your reprint to
maria@campuscalm.com. You're also welcome to use my photo
here.
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