“Curiosity only does one thing, and that is to give. And what it gives you are clues on the incredible scavenger hunt of your life.” ~Elizabeth Gilbert
It all happened so fast that I’ve scarcely had time to think it through. But my curiosity has been piqued and–though I’ve tried many times to talk myself out of it–there’s no turning back.
The statistics I had heard on the Ted Talk about the feeling of low self worth among women, because of a negative body image and a doubt in their own beauty, lingered in my mind as I drove to pick my kids up from school. “What would life be like if we had no mirrors?” I wondered. “If I couldn’t see my image what would I look like to myself?”
I looked out at the landscape before me, the only image I could see at that time and thought, “Without a mirror, I would look like these beautiful trees that line the road.” A thought that seemed to pull me into the trees, filling me with a sense of oneness that brought a peace and familiarity to my spirit. Without a separation of self I felt a deep connection with the trees and the world around me.
“It’s difficult to believe in yourself because the idea of self is an artificial construction. You are, in fact, part of the glorious oneness of the universe. Everything beautiful in the world is within you.”
This connection–this encounter with wholeness–left me with a desire to further explore, “What would life be like if I had no mirrors?” So intrigued was I by this question that I soon had a plan in place.
After honing in on a very simplistic hair and makeup routine that can be done without looking at myself, I decided that today–November first–would be the beginning of a month long journey of discovery. The beginning of my “30 days of reflection without my reflection”.
Though I am filled with anxious anticipation going into this journey (a simplistic hair and makeup routine that can be done without looking at ones self leaves a lot to be desired) I am powered forward by the memory of the brief glimpse into oneness that I felt while connecting with the trees.
It is my hope that by stepping away from self I will be able to step into an even deeper oneness, connecting more fully with my spirit, my world, to those with whom I share this world, and with Him who created all.
Oh man, this should be interesting.