Here’s the thing:

I didn’t like my face anymore.

Every time I looked in the mirror I grimaced at my refection. I scrutinized the sun lines in my cheeks and the deep smile lines around my eyes. I was merciless in my assessment and disappointed with myself each and every time. Why wasn’t my younger self looking back at me? Where was she and how could I get her back? Part of me knew the impossibility of this desire. Part of me felt vain and ridiculous for wishing it. And that just made me feel worse.

When I was younger, I never thought I would be this woman. I took my face for granted, prided myself in being casual about my looks, not spending much time readying my face for the day. And yet, here I was, standing in line for the next miracle skin cream, all in hopes of coaxing the younger me back to the the mirror.

And then one day, out of the blue, I had a genuine “aha” moment. I looked in the mirror and decided to smile at myself. Instead of scanning for deepening wrinkles, I looked into my own eyes. And there we all were: my younger self, my current self, and my beautiful inner timeless self. You know how it feels to share a loving smile with a cherished friend? Where your eyes kind of dance with happiness? That’s what happened. And that’s just how it felt: being held in a loving exchange.Now I practice that smile-in-the-mirror exercise most days. I whole-heartedly recommend it.

The How To:

Hold your own gaze in the mirror. You may be tempted to scan around your eyes, forehead, cheeks for imperfections, but gently return to capturing your own gaze. Breathe, relax and smile. Notice the liveliness, the beauty, and the love shining in those eyes. You radiant, gorgeous, smiling-right-back-at-you you! Congratulations! You just made your own day!