Selfies

On January 1st, 2014, in the middle of the most turbulent year of my life, I saw something on Facebook called The Feminist Selfie 365: a challenge to take a picture of yourself every day for the entire year. After glancing through a few posts about the project–some pro (embrace your beauty!), some con (more narcissistic drivel!), I signed up.

I gave myself three rules: (1) use only the camera on my iPhone, (2) be the only one clicking the shot, and (3) manipulating the image was allowed, but no touching up my face or body. For me, it wasn’t a vanity project. I seldom liked pictures of myself. I was critical of my features and increasingly shocked by what age was doing to my neck, belly, and upper arms. I felt about as youthful and attractive as the bottom of my compost bin. But this was about something else–what, I wasn’t even sure.

I stuck with it. 365 days = 365 pictures. No matter what was going on at home, no matter what question I couldn’t find the answer to, I could do this: take one picture. I didn’t have to know anything. I could wander, allow my brain to open up to some idea or inspiration, or just point and shoot. It shook out some of my perfectionism. I got better at good enough. It was amazingly grounding.

I’d like to say that I embraced my beauty. Some days I feel that I have. As a gal who has, in the past, struggled mightily with finishing things, this project began to change the way I feel about myself, from the inside out. And in the process, I made friends with how I look, and how I see.

Click on any image to enlarge (you’ll also be able to scroll through them more easily!).