How many times a day do you look in the mirror? And when you do, do you like what you see? If you drink a lot of tea or coffee or wash your hands a lot or brush your teeth after every meal, you have no choice but to see yourself in the mirror about a dozen times a day. What's interesting is how your impression of your appearance can change all day long. As an experiment, I recorded how I thought I looked through one weekend day: 6:30 am: Well, I still have hair and teeth 9:30 am: I look horrible--tired 10 am: Pretty bad, mas o menos 10:30 am: Dressed, make-up--better Around 4 pm: Glimpse--ok 5:30 pm: After exercise--much better! 7 pm: Eyes a bit red but look ok 10:30 pm: Tired but ok 11:15 pm: Before bed: I look like pure hell again What I've learned: that I notice different features (forehead, eyes, hair) at different times of day. I'm most critical in the morning. The morning might also be when I'm most objective. In general, my appearance probably doesn't change much; it's just my perception of it that does. I've also learned once was enough for this experiment. Life is better not looking in the mirror or at least not thinking too hard about what you see there. | Mirror You there. Someone else, Some otherness toed for danger, who are you? Mother, you are not, nor child, nor lady yet as excellent as your dreaming. Great stranger, old accuser, last and only hater, love is your saver. Alien of the clean glass, we speak mornings and evenings carefully casual, eternally the other's leaner. But always our eyes go strange rather than recognize a dangerous truth. Our safety is our separation. by Jeannette Nichols |