It’s all about remembering who you are…
You do not have to find yourself. You just have to remember who you are. – Topaz
Who is this sassy, fun and playful little thing? Oh, my gosh! It’s ME! This happy and confident little thing is me.
This was a picture I had seen many times over the course of my life, but as I was going through some old things after my mother’s death, something was different about it. I held it and studied it as if seeing it for the first time, as if really seeing myself for the very first time. I could not believe it was me. I felt much like the character Rose, played by Barbara Streisand, in the movie The Mirror Has Two Faces. She did not recognize herself, and it was as if she was seeing herself for the very first time. I thought as I held this picture in my hand, “This is me? I was adorable, playful, happy, and confident?”
As I looked at this picture, I couldn’t believe this was me. You see, like Barbara Streisand’s character, I had lost my way, too. I had forgotten who I was. All that I am searching for, all that I want to be is found on the road that takes me back to who I was before the world told me who I should be…happy, loved, adorable, and confident. The quest is not to find ourselves, the quest is to remember who I am.
Quote from The Mirror Has Two Faces:
Mother: Do you know what I thought when you were a baby? That you looked just like your dad, and that Claire looked like me.
Rose: (looking at an old picture of little girl) What’s that? She was so pretty, even then. Look at those eyes. Those lips.
Mother: That’s not Claire, that’s you.
Rose: Me? I never saw this picture.
Mother: I found it when I was cleaning up.
Rose: This was me? I was pretty?
Mother: Your father adored you. But you know that. He never felt that way about Claire. Only you. I don’t think he ever held a baby until you came. He never wanted to let you go.
Rose: I’m glad you found this.
Mother: So am I.
Rose: She was very pretty.
Mother: You were very pretty. Remember that.
So, as I look at this picture of this fun, happy, loved and confident little girl, I am telling myself, “That’s me. Remember that. That’s the real me. The me before the ugliness of the world. The me before I lost my way. If ever I need to find myself, I need not look any further than this picture.”
This reminds me of an article I wrote recently, When Did you Stop Thinking You’re Beautiful? I had a discussion with a someone about this very thing. This person was saying they were not confident and never liked having their picture taken. But this simply wasn’t true. They just did not remember anymore. I have seen video of this person as a child. I know for a fact that this person loved the camera, loved the attention, and seemed busy about living life, a stark contrast to the person they had become. Maybe those amazing people we meet who seem to be confident, happy, and so sure of themselves just never forgot who the are.
Do you remember when you thought you could be anything you wanted to be? Remember when you thought you could do anything you wanted to do?
We all need one of these pictures. It does not matter the age you are in the picture. Just find at least one picture of yourself where you shine, not just shine on the outside, but shine on the inside, too – you at the top of your game, confident and happy. Put these pictures where you can see them every day. And, remember, you do not have to find yourself. You just have to remember who you are.
Will you do that for me, for YOU? Will find one of these pictures of yourself or take one of yourself where you are shining and put it out where you can see it EVERY day? It’s not about finding yourself. It’s about remembering who you are.
Writing on the wall of life…(won’t you come write with me),
~Topaz
I would be interested in a blog hop, Topaz! Love it. I just love this post. Isn’t is funny how we lose sight of who we are. I was just at the beach with my little ones last weekend and I watched them just so comfortable with who they are and in their little bodies. I thought, “When do you lose that? When do you suddenly become “hyper-aware” of your body and insecurities?” It made me a little sad because I struggle with that, and sometimes it prevents me from doing things. We are all beautiful. We are all individual. Thank you! Thank you!
Wonderful, Elizabeth! I will keep you posted! Don’t you miss being like your little ones? No wonder kids are so happy. lol We would all be happier if we were more like them. The older we get, the crueler the world can be. But, yes, we are all beautiful. And the older we get, we realize how little our looks even have to do with our beauty. Thank you for the beautiful observations you made with your children. xo
What a lovely idea for a project! I love this post. I’ve been working my way back to who I am for a while now. It’s a windy road wrought with distraction and wrong turns. But I’m on the path.
Good for you, Tricia! You described the path perfectly….a windy road wrought with distraction and wrong turns. But, yes, we are on the path. You said it all so perfectly! I hope you participate!
I am definitely going to hunt down one of those pictures today! What a wonderful thing.
This is something I’ve struggled with for years. I grew up in an abusive home, so I was constantly being told that who I was wasn’t right. Trying to remember who that was has been difficult. I can find her sometimes, but then I lose her again. I love the idea of a photographic reminder. Thanks so much.
Stopping by from SITS. Have a lovely weekend!
That’s wonderful! I hope you do it! I am sorry you grew up with so much negativity. It is hard to quiet the old voices in our head. We lose our way. If you do it and would like to share, I would love to put together a slideshow with our pictures and our words…something to encourage other women to remember who they are. Let me know if you would like to participate! It’s wonderful to meet you! Thanks for stopping by!
Found this via SITS this project sounds like a great idea! my past helped shape who I am today and it’s a good idea for us to remember who we are 🙂
Welcome, Carmy! It’s nice to meet you. It is such a wonderful thing to remember ourselves when we shine.
What a great idea! It’s crazy how the Universe works. I was just venting to my bff that “I miss me!” & now this morning I find myself on your page 😊 Thank you for an inspirational start to my day off 🌈
Hi Allie! It’s really funny how that happens. I was reading an old blog of mine a few months ago and realized how much of the “old me” I had lost while going through some difficult years. I’m glad I had the old blog to remember who I am. Thanks for the beautiful comment. ~Topaz