Oh, right- Hmmm...

[poliphilo]

I was in the hotel room dressing or undressing. I had my shirt off and my mind was God knows where and Ailz snapped a photo of me. 

I'd post it only Ailz has lost the lead to her camera and can't download it. (You believe me, right?)

It shows a fat old man. A fat old man with a vacant expression. 
 
Actually- worse than that;  it shows a ghoul.

I don't believe I've put on weight, but the muscles have relaxed.

You look in the mirror and you don't see the truth. You edit and adapt. You have an idea of what you "really" look like and you lay that across the appearance. Also the reflection plays along. It smiles and grimaces and acts youthful.

In my mind I'm ageless. Or- let's say- a young-looking 40:  mature, but still slim and trim with a boyish face. People used to tell me I didn't look my age and I was pleased to believe them.

Now I come to think of it, no-one has told me that for a while.

And now I know why.

Comments

[jenny_evergreen]

Happens to us all; it's why looks really truly shouldn't matter.

[mummm.livejournal.com]

I know it's discouraging, but we all go through it. We do need to accept ourselves as we are sometimes I guess...

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

I´m always startled at photos of myself. I don´t see that same woman when I look in the mirror. You´re right, our eyes see what they adapt to seeing. Recently though, I have adopted a more carefree attitude towards the "relaxing" muscles. I just want to be graceful about the whole process.

[solar-diablo.livejournal.com]

The gray in my hair is barely noticable at 37, but if I were to let my beard grow it would be all too obvious. Thankfully running, calesthenics, and yoga have kept that southward softening trend at bay for the time being. But it's coming. I see it in those high school friends I still have regular contact with as well.

I think it takes a degree of humor. Old age is Death smiling at us. All we can do is smile back.

[currawong.livejournal.com]

Dreams are revealing too ... in mine I seem to be in my mid-thirties ... how old are you in yours?

[lily.livejournal.com]

Wonderful entry.

When age doesn't matter to a person I guess it's not always what's in their thoughts. Which is why sometimes we get so surprised when we see ourselves in the mirror or in photographs. As you said, in your mind you're ageless...and you are.

Lili

[manfalling.livejournal.com]

I've got some wrinkles already. Or lines on my brow anyway.

[kaysho.livejournal.com]

I was surprised when I received a replacement credit card in the post a few days ago ... one that has a picture built into it to help prevent fraud. I've had the account for something like twenty years, and the photograph that they keep re-using is about fifteen years old now.

I haven't changed a bit, I like to think?

Haha!