Self-Validation As A Validation Addict

I took these pictures last night.

The reasoning is multi-fold.

As you might know, I've been getting eyelash extensions for three years now.

I began getting them because I have a very bad nervous habit of pulling my real eyelashes out.

This has caused repeated infections.

With the extensions on, I don't pull on them.

I allowed a new girl to put extensions on a couple of weeks ago.

It went less than good.

When I brushed through them, they all came out - many with my natural lashes.

I was less than happy.

I called my girl and she got me in last Saturday.

Well, there was no way she could put extensions on what I had left.

So, I have been using some medicine and hope to get extensions put back on next week.

In the meantime, I am struggling with my addiction to validation.

The difference this time is that I am struggling not with needing outside validation, but I am struggling with self-validation.

I have realized that my lash extensions became a bit of an image thing for me.

Now, this isn't terrible.

It is just something that I need to be aware of.

Then, there's the wrinkles.

And the fine lines.

And the aging.

It's all having some sort of mental effect on me.

Only I can nip that in the bud.

So, this is what I am doing:

1. I am thanking my body every chance I get. When I'm on the treadmill, I take several minutes to thank every body part. My feet, my legs, my knees, my core, my hips, my toes, my swinging arms, my fingers, my mind.

2. I take time throughout the day to ask myself what I see, what I hear, what I smell and feel.

3. I remind myself that I have given birth four times. 

4. I remind myself that I am God's creation. Literally His creation. 

5. And I move on.