So I went to the spa with a girlfriend Friday. The first 15 minutes or so are always uncomfortable for me as I don't like showing my naked lumpy body in public.
While getting out of one of the hot tubs explosing my bum to the poor women that were still there I saw two women walking toward me to the hot tub I was leaving. They were in their 50's but had the giggling energy of 20 year olds. With a quick glance I noticed that both of them had large scars where their breasts used to be. I had never seen a post-breast surgery scar, and while I am usually a bit sqeamish about hurtful looking things, these women looked radiant-scars and all. I realized that if these beautiful women whose body had braved such a battle can walk among us comfortably who am I to be so self concience and, dare I say, self absorbed to worry about my body that wasn't "perfect".
Lesson learned. Ladies (and gentlemen), today embrace your inner and outer beauty!
I had a breast cancer scare about a week before my wedding. A month after the wedding, I was in surgery having a tumor removed from my right breast. It was luckily benign (scar tissue from an old car accident, which the doctor had guessed, but we weren't sure).
It left a small scar, but it's not noticeable until I lay on my back, then the right breast has a very noticeable indentation from the surgery so the breast isn't rounded, it's shaped sort of like a volcano, with the nipple and areola settled in the little hollow.
I was a bit self-conscious with my husband at first, even though I know he didn't marry me for my appearance (we were both at nearly our highest weights when we married), but it looked "weird" and I was afraid it would weird him out.
He's such a sweet romantic though, and says the scarred breast is his "favorite," because it reminds him of the relief he felt at knowing I didn't have breast cancer, and reminds him to be thankful to have me with him.
We sometimes call physically beautiful things awe-inspiring, but none hold a candle to the beauty of the soul.
i know this isnt the point of your post, but i love scars. not only do i think they look interesting, but each one is a symbol of life, and what we've been through. i even like my stretch marks. they are my battle scars from growing a human life inside me, that turned into my beautiful son. it reminds me that God blessed me with a child and also with a safe place inside me for a child to grow. we need to embrace our imperfections.
I absolutely agree, Julia! I have a massive scar on one arm from having a melanoma removed. It looks bad, but now I wear sleeveless tops and singlets without being self-conscious (no, not in the sun!). I call it my survivor scar. Because if it wasn't here, I wouldn't be.