Can we talk?

Selfies

         I see friends posting selfies on Facebook, some with their kids, all the time. They are all ages. Most are women. I don't see many or any pics of teens, so they're being left out of this converstion. I felt like all these people from all walks of life, many older than me, are taking self-photos, why shouldn't I try.

         Well, I did. I was horrified. I erased it. I tried over a different day. I erased it. I saw more selfies from other people. Their wrinkles were showing. The odd angles weren't flattering. I thought, "Well, they're willing to share their bad shots, I should try again." Once again, I was horrified.

         So I tried a whole series, from left, from right, fixing my hair, angling my chin differently. I erased them all. I tried different lighting, natural and artificial. I determined I was a freak of nature. Time has been my enemy. I wondered how on earth other people could tolerate it. I felt pity for them if they have to view what I saw in those pictures. It seemed so unfair. I don't think it's always been this way. Maybe.

         I calmed down and tried another day. I tend to tilt my head to one side. I corrected that. I adjusted my hand positions to try not to look up into the shadows under my eyes. I did seem to get some that were not quite so bad. Different clothes and colors seem to help. I finally realized selfies were not made for older people. Your photo is too close up.

         I look in my bathroom mirror every day, and what I see is nowhere as bad as what I get in a selfie. In one selfie last week, I discovered age spots (such a cruel name) on one side of my face that I didn't even know were there. I destroyed the picture. No one else has seen these. Some selfies are not meant to be shared.

         I have taken some that I'm keeping for private use. I'm on a diet and exercise program. After I lost 9 pounds and knew some clothes were looser, I took some full length shots with a mirror. Yes, the camera shows in the mirror. No one will see these but me. When I lose some more, I want to look in the mirror and compare to the photo, so that I can see my progress. They will never be on Facebook. Selfies may have a purpose, but they shouldn't go public after a certain age (or certain circumstances).