05/28/2026
Now I understand her. 🤍
This was one of the first self portraits I ever took of myself.
I was 18.
Back then, I thought this photo was about lighting, mood, shadows, expression…
But now, decades later, I see something completely different.
I see a young woman trying to understand who she was.
Trying to feel enough.
Trying to become.
Trying to be seen.
At that age, we think confidence comes from having all the answers.
But with time, I learned something else:
Confidence comes from surviving, evolving, falling apart, rebuilding, creating, loving, losing… and still remaining yourself.
Now when I look at her, I don’t judge her expression.
I don’t criticize her body.
I don’t wonder if she was pretty enough.
I just want to tell her:
You’re going to grow into a woman you’ll be proud of. ✨
And maybe that’s one of the gifts of getting older…
We finally learn how to look at ourselves with kindness.