Self Validation

I did a photo session with my Heike years ago.

I never saw the photos.

I never wanted to.

Why would i want to look at photos of myself?

I couldn't stand who I saw in those pictures.

Doesn't that just break your heart to read that?

It makes me very sad that I thought of myself in such a poor way.

I had another photo session with Heike several months ago...

Last winter.

After months of therapy and treatment.

I was a different person, and I have been eager to see the pictures.

She sent me a few last week.

I asked myself what I see in these pictures.

Life.

Skin.

Healthy fat.

Strength.

Courage.

Resilience.

Peace.

Confidence.

Vision.

Love.

Grace.

Compassion.

When someone has a process addiction of validation, the key becomes finding within oneself validation.

This is a constant war within a person.

A war that reminds us what we are fighting against and for.

A war that never ceases.

A war that has no winners.

But, a war that teaches.

I am learning.