What I learnt losing my hair..

Make peace with the mirror and watch the reflection CHANGE

Mirrors are wonderful things.

Let’s face it, we use them for all aspects of social media and self care. They are in almost every shop and in our homes, so that we can view ourselves from what we think is someone else’s perspective. However for a sick person, whether that be a cancer patient, an individual with depression or anxiety, mirrors serve as a constant reminder of your personal circumstance.

From the moment you wake up you view yourself in the mirror, then brush your teeth in a bathroom of which also has a mirror. We go shopping only to see our reflections in the shop door or window. You can’t escape this.

This was one of my biggest challenges going through the traumatic experience that is THE BIG ‘C.

How could I possibly love myself now, when I struggled my entire life to love who I was. My best mates mother: a softly spoken woman, that only ever spoke from her heart with clear sightedness and a razor sharp perception, gave the biggest gift of love and truth.

I had expressed my concerns about my hair and the sorrow I often felt looking in the mirror on a daily basis. I told her that I often didn’t care for my hair properly  and took it for granted.

She said to me…

"Well now you will love every strand"

Beauty is how you feel inside and it reflects in your EYES

Her eyes pierced through my soul, as if she knew this was what I needed to hear right now. She was right. I needed to love every single freckle, hair, bump and bruise on my body. I went into my next cycle of treatment that week with a whole new perspective. I established routine. I forced myself to get up out of bed, shower, makeup and moisturise my healing body daily. I walked back and forth, up and down the 8E cancer ward. I stretched, talked with others, and ate healthily.

Our wounds are often the openings into the best and most beautiful parts of us.

In a world filled with countless stories, there is one tale that stands above all others - yours. You are not merely a spectator, but the main character and author of your own extraordinary narrative.

Your journey is unique, filled with triumphs, challenges, and everything in between. And at the heart of it all lies a profound truth: You are deserving of boundless self-love

victoria psaltis