Changes...

One of the things I have been trying to cope with are the changes on the outside.  Looking at these 3 pictures, I see the person I was pre-cancer, the person after cancer, and the person after relapse/transplant.  And to me, I see 3 different people, on the outside,yes, but there are also some similarities internally and externally, and of those differences, it doesn't necessarily mean they are negative.  They're differences based on my life experiences.  So instead of battling those differences, I need to embrace them.

It seemed like everyone time I looked in the mirror I saw a complete stranger.  I was refusing to accept the person looking back at me, but now when I look into the mirror, I see the same eyes, nose, mouth/smile, and freckles and sure my hair is darker and you can see my baldness/scalp, my weight gain/loss.  And that's okay.  So instead of hiding like a hermit, I need to embrace these changes.  I have been given a 3rd chance at life and I'm not going to waste it feeling sorry for myself anymore.  I'm not going to try and be the person that our society thinks what 'beautiful' is.  Bbeautiful' is me, 'beautiful' is the person on the street with scars from some form of an event in their life, 'beautiful' is the person with a missing limb, 'beautiful' is the person who has love, compassion, and acceptance in their heart!!!

Beauty doesn't judge or condemn anyone for what they have or don't have.  So as of today, I'm declaring my beauty both on the outside, as well as, the inside!!!!