Looking in the mirror. Most of us are victims of our own personal attack on our bodies— wishing endlessly that we could change anything and everything. I recently found myself especially guilty of this self-directed criticism thanks to the brand new scars that now adorn my stomach. I never really minded scars before, but I also never imagined that I would ever be graced with so many in such a short span of time.
Here’s the back-story: less than a year ago, I was diagnosed with an extreme case of ulcerative colitis that required a series of multiple surgeries in order to restore my health back to normal. I obviously wanted nothing more than to rid my body of this horrible disease, and yet I still found myself worrying about the marks I was left with. The pettiness of it shocked me because I realized I was being silly, but I still couldn’t help feeling insanely self-conscious.
Then, I suddenly had a stroke of wisdom. Scars should never be something to be ashamed of. They tell stories about you, about your strength, courage, and will to fight. They reveal parts of your past like nothing else can. Your past, and your scars, are the reason you are who you are today, and that should never be shamefully hidden away. Your scars are beautiful for what they represent; painting a unique picture of your battles growing up. So now, would I trade in my new scars for unmarked skin? Not a chance. As Tyler Durden said in Fight Club, “I don’t want to die without any scars.”
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