Lately, I've seriously been contemplating what on earth the deal is with mirrors. I'm certainly not the first to have this particular deep thought topic. In fact, a few months ago, my co-worker and I were having a heart-to-heart on the evils of the looking-glass. Meatloaf even has a song about it (that should tell you how old I am....)
You see, here's my issue. When I look in the mirror, I still see myself for the most part as a hip college kid in my senior year of study. I don't know what happens, but for some reason, from the time my eyes see myself in the mirror to the time my brain gets the signal that it's actually me in the mirror, the whole picture becomes distorted. It's like I live in a fantasy world of what I really look like. The only thing that snaps me out of this little safe world is a photograph of myself. Seriously. I wouldn't even know about this whole shady side of mirrors if there wasn't such a thing as cameras. Thank God for cameras for this reason (among others). If truth be known, I've thrown away about 6 outfits after seeing myself in a picture with the outfit on. I get so mad at my mirror for not being candid in these things!!!!
I look in the mirror EVERY day. Do I spend a lot of time there? Heck no. However, when I see a picture of myself, my immediate response is WTH?????? Then I start thinking, "well, maybe it's just a bad angle," or "is that really me? I don't look like that!" But, my friend, I really do. How does the old saying go? "The camera doesn't lie!" (I think that's a real saying, isn't it?) I know there's probably a tiny element of denial on my side of the fence that can account for some of the difference, but the majority is still unexplainable.
Is there a solution? I don't know, but I wish I did. I'm tired of having trust issues with my mirror--it's exasperating.
I have been contemplating this same issue for quite some time as well. I don't know about you, but my perception of myself appears to change depending on which mirror I am looking into as well! Don't even get me started on trick mirrors in dressing rooms...I have actually been known to do my makeup in the mirror then snap a picture with my phone to see what it REALLY looks like. It's so very frustrating. How is it that we all tend to age about ten years from the time we see our reflection to the time we turn away? I fear this is a mystery of our world that may never be explained. Perhaps the answer is to just get rid of cameras and go about our business in a delusional state...the world would probably be a much happier place. ;)
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