Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall

My baby/toddler (16 months already!) is such a wonderful teacher.

Case in point: We have a silver Mexican mirror on the wall, with an arm chair directly below it. Anytime someone sits in the chair, she runs over and demands to be lifted up. Once in your lap, she then goes wild until she is propelled up high enough (a bicep exercise as she weighs 23 lbs) to see her reflection in the mirror.

Upon sighting herself, she begins to smile and laugh. It makes her so happy! Any mirror, any time- when she sees her cute little face and pudgy baby body she is full of delight and grins.

Why don't we do that for ourselves? Why is it so hard to look, really look into our own eyes in the mirror? I remember in years past catching sight of myself in the mirror at a party or a restuarant bathroom and really looking and thinking- oh my God, is that me?!? Lots of self help books say to greet yourself in the mirror, smile, and say hey! it's going to be a great day! to the reflection staring back at you. (Contrary to the usual where did that wrinkle come from? Is that a zit? My hair sucks! I am so fat! etc)

You can do some of your most profound healing work in the mirror. I forgive you, I love you, I accept you.

That's some of the toughest work to do. But I promise, the rewards are great once you break through and start connecting with the person looking back at you.

Once upon a time we were pleased as punch to see ourselves in the mirror- no judgement, no scrutiny, just radical acceptance and joy. My daughter models it for me multiple times daily. She's teaching and reminding me. I want to really get it so that I can model it for her when the going gets tough- or 8- and we can buoy each other up, faces lifted to the mirror, loving the image we see in front of us.