Maya strolled into the Ladies room at the unfamiliar shopping centre. She encountered a stunning woman who returned her smile with ease. Maya contemplated how we judge and compare one another within that first impression.
The beautiful woman seemed a few years older than Maya or was it just her compassionate poise? Her eyes radiated kindness, strength, and wisdom yet they shone with innocence.
Maya, touched that this extraordinary woman took the time to wordlessly greet her, stepped closer to realise she’d been looking at a mirror. The woman was herself, without the harsh judgements of familiarity.
Word count 98-based on a true story
Linked to MINDLOVESMISERY’S MENAGERIE and FRIDAY FICTIONEERS
LOVE HAPPY NOTES - The Home of Inspiration, Happiness and Fun 
Oh wow I loved that closing line very powerful!
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Thank you so much!
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Well said!! 🙂
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Thanks. 🙂
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I like how she thinks the woman looked a few years older than her. Don’t we all think that, until we see our reflection?
Claire
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I think we don’t realise what we have grown into until we have seen ourselves from untainted eyes.
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Nice one! I did not expect that ending.
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Thanks Colline.
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I love this on so many levels! =D
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Thank you for your kind words.
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Image is more than skin deep.
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So true!
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A fantastic piece of writing 🙂
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Thank you Hugh 🙂
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This is simply exceptional.
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That is so kind of you. Thanks.
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Welcome.
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a feel good story. very nice.
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Thanks.
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It must be great to be able to really see yourself without any preconceived ideas. Very nice!
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Thanks. So many of us miss out on the wonderful within the familiar. Imagine the confidence and the relationships we’d have if we genuinely saw ourselves and others this way.
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That’s nice. We do judge ourselves too harshly and see flaws that are most often invisible to everyone else. Interesting idea.
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Thank you Sorchia. That’s so true!
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This is wonderfully written. I’m impressed.
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Thank you Pam. 🙂
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My goodness, that was too good 😀
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Thank you that’s so very kind of you.:-)
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It would be a real gift if we saw ourselves that way. A few years ago I caught sight of myself unexpectedly in a department store mirror and said to myself “My goodness, you really are an old woman.” Still strangers tell me they thought I was ten years younger when they learn my age. I’m still putting the two images together.
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If you saw yourself as if you were looking at someone else you would think, oh what a lovely lady. We are our own harshest critics.
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Extraordinarily beautiful. You captured exactly how so many of us label ourselves. Brilliant conclusion.
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Thank you Meredith for your wise words.
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Love this. We often hide ourselves behind smoke and mirrors.
Lily
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Thanks. That’s so true Lily.
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What an interesting and unique take on the prompt! Mirrors can be so deceiving as can expectations and how we think people see us (or how we fallaciously see ourselves.)
janet
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Thank you Janet. That’s so true.
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Dear Love Happy Notes, Since I let my hair grow out to gray, i do look different than my picture – it’s taken six months so far and I probably have that much more and then My natural hair color was brownish copper, and now it looks like silver with faded blonde. Don’t know why but anyway – TA DA – maybe a new picture of me. (in a few months). Love your story!
Nan 🙂
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Thanks Nan. Your hair sounds pretty.
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You know, it sounds improbably for someone to not recognize them self immediately, but a quick version of this has happened to me.
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I’m not surprised, Alice. It’s enlightening when something like that happens.
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Definitely a very wonderful closing sentiment. How we change without even knowing it can be quite the revelation! Well done 🙂
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Thanks Pat 🙂
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LHN. While I’ve never had that experience, I can well believe it could happen. Creative and well-written story. 🙂 —Susan
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Thank you Susan. 🙂
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🙂
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This was a very beautiful post. Thank you for sharing it!
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Thank yo so much Renate. 🙂
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You are warmly welcome!
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This is wonderful. I like the word image that a kind thought has such a positive outcome. She needed that from herself.
Ellespeth
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Thank you Ellespeth. 🙂
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Well told. She gets to see herself clearly when she thinks it’s someone else. I like the idea. Marg.
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Thank you so much Marg. 🙂
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Gotta watch those mirrors in shopping centres – some are kinder than others! Lol! It depends on the lighting. It’s a bit rough when there is a fairly harsh light right above. You’re right about the judgments though.
Perhaps we need to be happier with what we see? 🙂
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Absolutely. This actually happened to me, in a milder way, but I was surprised that the woman was me. It was truly eye opening.
I’m happy if all the different parts of me work as if they are supposed to. The human body is an amazing creation. 🙂
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Well this is a lovely story. And thought provoking. 🙂
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Thank you Maria. 🙂
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