The Mirror That Lied to Me

I avoided mirrors for years. Every glance reminded me of who I thought I’d lost: the younger, beautiful version of me. I’d rush past store windows, never stop to check lipstick in reflections. When I did look, I saw lines, tired eyes, and whispers of “too late.” But here’s the truth I never knew: mirrors don’t tell the whole story. They show the surface, not the woman who raised children alone, built a career from scratch, and kept going when others would have quit. That mirror lied, and I believed it. Today, I try to see differently. Not perfect. Just differently. And that shift feels like freedom.