Don’t look too closely in the magnifying mirror!
During my recent travels – I learned a very important life lesson in well-being- DO NOT, whatever you do, use the hotel magnifying mirror. And if you have one at home that you like to use – you are a stronger person than me! That tricky little mirror, attached to the larger bathroom mirror – is not my friend. I have lived my many years without one of those things, and certainly no good came of spending a week alone in a hotel with that magnifier staring at me every time I went to brush my teeth. I realized I look much much better from a distance, perhaps with sunglasses on, when you are squinting in just the right light. Contemplating every pore , blemish, and stray hair is not for the faint of heart. I quickly learned to avert my eyes and only glance at the dimly lit mirror on the closet door. I looked a heck of a lot better when I wasn’t staring myself in the face, up close and personal. From the normal mirror – I could consider myself, if not decent, at least not a freakish.
Which brings me to this week. I was washing the dishes on Sunday. Washing the dishes happens to be my favorite, meditative household chore. I like standing at the sink and letting my mind wander. Washing and mind wandering, I was really trying to think of what I am good at, my strengths – and then it occurred to me – I am great at navel-gazing. (I just looked up the definition of navel gazing: “self-indulgent or excessive contemplation of oneself or a single issue, at the expense of a wider view.” Yup, that’s me!) But really, is it good to be good at that?? Just like the magnifying mirror – every thing looks so harsh from up close. It is easy to focus on the small things and forget the big picture. As much as I like to have something I am good at – I may have to give that one up. So I am going to give up the navel gazing skill and take to heart the lesson I learned about the magnifying mirror – DO NOT be tempted to use it! Better to take the the long view. And if there is a bit of fog and mist, so much the better. And pro tip #1: if you are using a camera, choose the softening/blur filter! Used wisely – it is a great great friend.
Elizabeth Linder 