these eyes
My mind resists why I am here. Eyebrows need to be plucked. Hmmm. Those pores need some attention. What are we going to do for dinner? Did I take Millie out this afternoon? I think I might want to run out and get some coffee. Why am I doing this again? Hmmm. I close my eyes. Breathe in. Pause. Breathe out. Open my eyes. Look again.
This thought.
These eyes. These eyes are the only eyes that will ever see all that I have seen, all that I will see. Holy crap. This is huge. HUGE. I spend so much time wishing that I could adjust this or move that or look like. But this is it. This is the face I bring to this life time. These are the eyes that will see all that I will see as I move through my experiences. These are the eyes that will help me learn this time around; the eyes that will force me to see even when I want to sleep.
Spending time with my reflection seems to take me down a different pathway each day. Sometimes I resist to such a degree I feel like I have let myself down a bit, like I didn't "get" what I was to "get" that day. Though I know that isn't really true, I can become a bit exasperated with myself. Other days I have the "crappers it is 11:30 p.m. and I haven't spent any time in front of the mirror" thoughts. But those seem to be the days that I have a little epiphany. Interupting the flow of things seems to turn my usual thoughts upside down. And that can't be a bad thing.
If you are joining me in your own journey of self-reflection through time with your mirrored self, I hope you will realize there is no "right" way to practice this. You could spend 15 seconds just breathing and looking at yourself, noticing whatever comes up. You could devote the same 10 minutes every day to this experience. You could sit with a poem or whatever inspires you and read, then spend time with your reflection. The possibilities go on and on. This week, I wrote about how I unexpectedly serenaded myself and I have to say I highly recommend that. Feel free to share your ideas and experiences here if you would like.
Take a moment and look deeply into your eyes. What do you see? What would happen if you let go a bit of the wishing to look like and honored this face? Honored these eyes? Honored you?
liz lamoreux
Reader Comments (12)
I wish I could be as relaxed as you are about this process. I appreciate all you share about your time in front of the mirror.
I love this twist, concentrating on what my eyes have seen, not how I have looked to other people, to myself. Inspiring, my lovely.
x x x
liz, i am observing and learning being present in the moment as you are. it's a pleasure to read your posts.
i teach "happiness" workshops sometimes and just about everyone confirms that staying present is the hardest of all. that is quite a challenge since the present is all we have!
hope your weekend is a fine one.
kj
yes, exactly. this IS it. why waste a lifetime of wishing when we could embracing what is already here?
i love this. looking from the inside out.
very inspiring, as usual, Liz.
xx
It was so wonderful to read this because I was just thinking about this same idea this morning...how you're the only person who can see EXACTLY what you see. Is it possible our eyes define us? That if I couldn't literally see the world the way that I see it, I might be a completely different person? Maybe the green I see is so much brighter than what anyone else sees. Maybe the me I see is someone different than what others see.
Thanks so much for sharing this! I love hearing about your journey with the looking glass! xoxo
HI Liz,
I haven't been participating in the mirror meditation yet but your beautiful posts are inspiring me to start this weekend. Also, can you email me your mailing address? Thanks! xoxo
Liz,
You are an INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL PERSON inside and OUT! Your poetic words have been so melancholy. You are judging yourself way too hard. Just know, from someone who has also struggled with these ideas of outward beauty, that your joy and bright light radiate above and beyond any standards of physical beauty this world could impose!
Oh Liz...you are wonderful...simply wonderful :)
I sang a love song to myself after your experience...it made me cry (of course) and I seemed to see a glow around me...I embarrassed myself a little, but it was a precious moment.
Thank You for all you do for us.
xxx d
this is
an intriguing thought...
that makes you
stop and think...
i'm glad that you
wrote about it...
and that you are getting
so much out of
the self reflection
exercise...
it is a great idea...
I lovethe beginning of this post-different details but that is always going through my head too.
I am reveling in this trip
In the knowledge of all the choices I am allowed to make-that even not choosing is a choice.
I really am getting a lot from what you post about the exercises. It is helping nudge me along.
You are profound
Loving you
Wow - just found your blogsite and really admire your honesty and kindness. I also love love love !!! your bags that you have made. I've been traipsing around the edges of blog world for a while but struggle to find the courage to continue what i briefly started..... i'll continue reading yours for inspiration xxx
mairsymusings@blogspot.com
(I like the new picture)