Last week I had my picture taken for my new book cover. The photographer is brilliant and actually took my pictures just before heading off to Thailand to do what he really loves, which is to capture the vibrant and colorful cultures around the world.
After taking the pictures he downloaded them on his computer and asked me to pick the ones I liked. It’s always sobering to see yourself as you really are.. Mirrors are deceiving because we pose for ourselves! You can never see the way your face wrinkles up as you speak and laugh – it’s just not something that can be captured – except on film or in pictures.
Anyhow, he immediately began de-wrinkling me! Puffing up the dark cirles under my eyes that I remember seeing in my grandmother. Smoothing out the smile lines that have taken 42 years to sufficiently deepen, and with the touch of a finger the lines around my eyes were gone.
It’s true, I ended up looking very similar to a younger version of me, but what surprised me was how disturbed I was with the whole process. Taking away the lines and dark circles was like taking away my character, my experience and my depth.
The picture I selected is only mildly “touched up” and I’m ok with that. But from now on I’m going to request that the dark circles remain intact – thanks grandma.