Mirror, mirror, on the wall
Working from home as I do, there are some days when the only other person I see is my own reflection. Mostly I’m kind to the woman-girl I see, letting her eat what she wants, stay up late, sleep for as long as she needs to, and drink her own body weight in wine. I don’t admonish her for still smoking, I don’t berate her for spending all her money the moment she gets it and then spending the rest of the month in poverty and panic. I’m friendly to her when we meet in the mirror, and have become very good at over-looking her flaws and trying to be supportive about how she’s aging and no longer the skinny slip of a girl she was a decade ago. As her best friend, I think I’m pretty fab. But there is one thing I do that she is starting to rebel against: I keep her trapped in her home.
Home has been the safest place for her for quite some time now. The colours, the fabrics, the furniture all cosset her in familiarity, but just as nights like Sunday night are becoming the norm, she also wants to spread her wings – she wants to get out of the gilded cage she’s has created around herself. I tell her it is a gradual process, and that as she lets go of the past new experiences will come into her life, but I know she’s scared. She’s carrying a lot of anger around with her but it’s manifesting as depression, as a heaviness that clouds each minute. I want her to get angry, I want her to rage, but she is so silent sometimes. It worries me.
In the guise of my own best friend, I was inspired to complete a meme created by Mindy. I’ve altered it a bit, but I’m sure Mindy won’t mind…
1. What do you think is one of her best qualities?
Her ability to listen, hands down. She has generous ears that will listen to a friend and really take on board what they say, without judgment or criticism. She is very wise, and will often seem to be channeling some form of higher wisdom as she speaks.
2. What physical feature do you love about her?
I really like her eyes – they carry a lot of mischief as well as pain. Sometimes they can seem cold, but I know it is her simply protecting herself. I also appreciate the fact that she has long legs. I know they’re not as slim as they used to be, but she likes being tall, and it suits her. She also has a fabulous décolletage!
3. Why do her friends enjoy spending time with her?
As well as being a good listener, she is witty and irreverent, and makes her friends laugh, even in the bleakest periods. She’s generous with her compliments and honesty, and is a fiercely loyal friend.
4. What is a skill she is very, very good at?
Well, she’s exceptionally good in bed. Hmm, maybe that’s too much information? I think she is a very good writer, and I think she does herself down too much about it. She needs to accept it as her path and send her words out there.
5. What one gift does she offer this world, that no one else can?
Her experiences of grief are hers alone, though shared by many. I believe her book and her insights will comfort a lot of people, and from there her other novels will entertain and inspire many.
6. What color does she love, and how does it personify all the wonderful things about her? She loves indigo and violet. There’s something darkly mysterious about these colours and I think this reflects the depths of her soul, and her artistic nature.
7. What is her favorite piece of clothing, and why does it make her feel so good? She’ll probably kill me for saying this, but she loves her jeans best as they make her arse look good. It’s really as simple as that.
What would you say about your best friend?
That when she loves someone, she loves them fiercly, and that person knows that she will be loyal to them, always.
love you fiercly S
xxx d
That when she loves someone, she loves them fiercly, and that person knows that she will be loyal to them, always.
love you fiercly S
xxx d
this is so funny, susannah. i just wrote myself a love letter today and was coming to ‘tag’ you…i’m so glad you were already celebrating you.
she loves her curiosity about everything and everyone.
this is so funny, susannah. i just wrote myself a love letter today and was coming to ‘tag’ you…i’m so glad you were already celebrating you.
she loves her curiosity about everything and everyone.
You are a loyal friend suzy, and extremely generous with your compliments and honesty. Even in you rbleakest periods baby. And that’s why i love you so much, for everything you’ve given me xxxx
You are a loyal friend suzy, and extremely generous with your compliments and honesty. Even in you rbleakest periods baby. And that’s why i love you so much, for everything you’ve given me xxxx
i’m so honored to be your monkey.
this was beautiful, my friend…and i see/hear/feel all these qualities about you as well. that is why it was so easy to fall in love with you.
i had a dream about you last night. we were dancing at a club and your arse did indeed look hot in your jeans.
prrrr.
i’m so honored to be your monkey.
this was beautiful, my friend…and i see/hear/feel all these qualities about you as well. that is why it was so easy to fall in love with you.
i had a dream about you last night. we were dancing at a club and your arse did indeed look hot in your jeans.
prrrr.
This is great. I love that you know these things about yourself. They are all good, true things. The kind of woman I would want as a friend. This is why you resonate with me, all the way across the world. Because it is easy to see you in your writing!
I don’t know what I would say about myself today… Perhaps, she tries to be more herself everyday.
oxox to you
:)
This is great. I love that you know these things about yourself. They are all good, true things. The kind of woman I would want as a friend. This is why you resonate with me, all the way across the world. Because it is easy to see you in your writing!
I don’t know what I would say about myself today… Perhaps, she tries to be more herself everyday.
oxox to you
:)
Susannah,
Tell your friend thank you for me, for filling in some blanks. I’d like to meet her someday. Her frankness is refreshing. ;-)
My best friend tells me to be who I am, and accepts me when I am.
I like him and I like you.
rel
Susannah,
Tell your friend thank you for me, for filling in some blanks. I’d like to meet her someday. Her frankness is refreshing. ;-)
My best friend tells me to be who I am, and accepts me when I am.
I like him and I like you.
rel
This is a good meme. In the interest of having no more readers, I won’t steal. (= I think jeans that make your arse look good are a key element to bringing a smile to any sensible girl’s face. It’s a gift to have such insight into yourself, even when that vision is painful. Violet is my favorite color and was on my short list of names for my daughter. (=
This is a good meme. In the interest of having no more readers, I won’t steal. (= I think jeans that make your arse look good are a key element to bringing a smile to any sensible girl’s face. It’s a gift to have such insight into yourself, even when that vision is painful. Violet is my favorite color and was on my short list of names for my daughter. (=
Very thought provoking.
I enjoyed reading this.
:)
Very thought provoking.
I enjoyed reading this.
:)
Dear S,what a lovely idea of being your own best friend … guess I’ve spent so much time being a friend to others, I hadn’t truly thought about being my own best friend. thank you for giving me that thought to ponder. x, d
Dear S,what a lovely idea of being your own best friend … guess I’ve spent so much time being a friend to others, I hadn’t truly thought about being my own best friend. thank you for giving me that thought to ponder. x, d
I’m loving this series of posts about embracing ourselves going around some of my favorite blogs and your post is wonderful, Susannah.
I love those photos of you too.
PS…the perfect pair of jeans is an elusive thing and priceless when you find them!
I’m loving this series of posts about embracing ourselves going around some of my favorite blogs and your post is wonderful, Susannah.
I love those photos of you too.
PS…the perfect pair of jeans is an elusive thing and priceless when you find them!
Beautiful post, lovely. And I wore my favorite “ass jeans” today…
-love you-
Beautiful post, lovely. And I wore my favorite “ass jeans” today…
-love you-
I loved this post. It reminded me of an old Helen Reddy song: “and that’s why I am my best friend to myself/and I take me out whenever I feel low/and I make my life as happy as a best friend would/and I’m as nice to me as anyone I know”
I don’t think I have nearly so much clarity at looking at myself as you do, I know my friends think I am smart but I’m not sure how else they see me
I loved this post. It reminded me of an old Helen Reddy song: “and that’s why I am my best friend to myself/and I take me out whenever I feel low/and I make my life as happy as a best friend would/and I’m as nice to me as anyone I know”
I don’t think I have nearly so much clarity at looking at myself as you do, I know my friends think I am smart but I’m not sure how else they see me
i’m out of universe channelled wisdom today, just wanted to say in the short time i’ve known you i know you to be all these things and more (apart from the bed thing – but you have beautiful eyes and your arse does look great in jeans ;-)
x x x x x
i’m out of universe channelled wisdom today, just wanted to say in the short time i’ve known you i know you to be all these things and more (apart from the bed thing – but you have beautiful eyes and your arse does look great in jeans ;-)
x x x x x
well, the next time you see her tell her how gorgeous she is, tell her she is loved, make sure you remind her how brilliant she is and how her grief and her words have touched and inspired so many, and do tell her how excited i am to meet her…
well, the next time you see her tell her how gorgeous she is, tell her she is loved, make sure you remind her how brilliant she is and how her grief and her words have touched and inspired so many, and do tell her how excited i am to meet her…
Tell her also that she has a generous spirit–that her kindness inspires me. The good listener, I’ll agree with–as her energy encouraged me to open up and be truthful about myself and my experiences. Busy as I’ve been lately, please tell her she’s been on my mind and her music has filled my drives into the city…
Tell her also that she has a generous spirit–that her kindness inspires me. The good listener, I’ll agree with–as her energy encouraged me to open up and be truthful about myself and my experiences. Busy as I’ve been lately, please tell her she’s been on my mind and her music has filled my drives into the city…
beautiful rendition…and generous ears, yes. like open arms.
beautiful rendition…and generous ears, yes. like open arms.
I understand this need to
hide and the complex weariness
of it in the same breath.
What a wonderful meme.
I also love indigo and violet -
and throw in emerald and you
have my favorite colors.
I would say about “my best
friend” that i admire how she
keeps moving…trying new
things….going out all by herself
when she is so lonely inside
-lonely for someone specific
that has forgotten her.
wonderful post – you are
a lovely sparkling jewel of
a girl!!
I understand this need to
hide and the complex weariness
of it in the same breath.
What a wonderful meme.
I also love indigo and violet -
and throw in emerald and you
have my favorite colors.
I would say about “my best
friend” that i admire how she
keeps moving…trying new
things….going out all by herself
when she is so lonely inside
-lonely for someone specific
that has forgotten her.
wonderful post – you are
a lovely sparkling jewel of
a girl!!
ahhhhh..yes..so beautifully said once again..
As i was reading you talking about her..I could picture you and her..and the me thinking of the “her” in me…(?!?)like…maybe…ya’..maybe it’s about time I face her…and write about who she really is..instead of just hiding in giggles and laughter…I need to acknowledge her the way you did here..
wonderful..thank you for the inspiration and the lesson…
it’s me..Lux..I’ve changed my site…
ahhhhh..yes..so beautifully said once again..
As i was reading you talking about her..I could picture you and her..and the me thinking of the “her” in me…(?!?)like…maybe…ya’..maybe it’s about time I face her…and write about who she really is..instead of just hiding in giggles and laughter…I need to acknowledge her the way you did here..
wonderful..thank you for the inspiration and the lesson…
it’s me..Lux..I’ve changed my site…