Seeing Yourself in the Mirror
“The time will come when,
with elation
you will greet yourself
arriving at your own door,
in your own mirror,
and each will smile
at the other’s welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again
the stranger
who was your self.
Give wine.
Give bread.
Give back your heart
to itself,
to the stranger
who has loved you
all your life,
whom you ignored
for another,
who knows you by heart.
Take down
the love letters
from the bookshelf,
the photographs,
the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit.
Feast on your life.”
I won’t add much to this poem by Derek Walcott entitled Love After Love. I’ve been struck by these words and stumbled on the poem enough times that I found it worthwhile to share with you. In particular, I love the notion of peeling the image we have of ourselves off the mirror to reveal the living breathing person here in front of us. Thanks for being you.
Next time you look
in the mirror,
maybe notice how
you are brand new
Right Now.
”Peel your own image
from the mirror”
and maybe offer
this new person
some love.
***On a final note, I’ve added an option at the end of these blog posts for you to make a small contribution if you’d like. Please only do so if you feel moved to, and know that your donation goes directly toward helping me continue to provide affordable individual guidance as well as create new content, such as this blog, in the name of increased well-being and reduced psychological suffering. One particular project I’m currently working on is a book that encapsulates my psychological, philosophical, and spiritual perspective on getting to know oneself deeply and getting out of one’s own way. If you’re so inclined, your contribution would support these efforts and would be greatly appreciated (click the button below to donate). Thank you for being here!