Self Portrait Sunday: This is a big deal
Posted by Alli on June 17, 2007
This is a picture of me drying my hair. As in, I am using an actual hair dryer to turn my hair from wet to damp to dry.
Why is this a big deal? Well, it significance lies in the idea that a sign of depression is losing interest in taking care of yourself. I never went the route of ending bodily cleanliness. I would dress in appropriate attire when I had to go to work, but I think I would graze the edge of “business casual.”
I gave up styling my hair in a disguised effort of saving minutes on my morning routine. Those minutes I “reclaimed” for myself would be spent desperately begging myself to get out of bed and do something with my day. Once out of bed, I would wash my hair, throw in some product, and let the air do its thing. Makeup was a thing of my past. No one cared what I looked like anyway.
At least that is what I told myself.
Before things got out of hand for me, I would spend up to 45 minutes on my hair. I would use the hair dryer and a round brush and take the time to make up my face from foundation to mascara. I would brush and clip and twist to make it all just so.
Today I don’t demand as much time to make the effort to care about my looks. But to me, just taking the time to dry my hair is a step to show that I do actually care.
Self Portrait Sunday is a meme hosted by Cass of the excellent blog, Digi-Cass. A picture of yourself, taken by you, is the only item necessary to participate. (I just choose to add a little something extra.) Play along by posting a picture on your own blog and then leaving a link to it on today’s SPS entry on Digi-Cass.
[tags]self portrait, self portrait Sunday, depression[/tags]
Jennifer said,
I’m glad you’re taking care of yourself. You’re beautiful.
skeet said,
Been there, done that – for quite a few years. I’m glad you’re feeling better about you. I joked about vanity today, but a little touch of it is a good thing. People do care. I like to see you, and to see you wanting to put your best self forward. Yay Alli!
Martin said,
I think men can be this way about shaving. I let things get out of hand with not bothering to shave sometimes. I don’t have a day job, so I really let myself go sometimes.
Great Pic
Deb said,
I’m glad you’re drying it again after reading it. You can really see how red your hair is in this picture! I liked seeing your hair down, I think it’s usually pulled back when I see pics…I think this is one of my favorites!
Loretta said,
I totally get what you’re saying there. I fall into that pattern of depression so easy and I often need a good kick to get me out of it.
Sindy said,
Glad you’re starting to feel better and what to look like the hottie you are!
Cass said,
Alli, all I can say is: word. You told the story I never dared to tell.
George said,
I think we all go through days, weeks, even years feeling like that. Great to see your up and doing your hair. Ya look great!
Midlife Musings- Avoiding midlife crisis with faith, family, humor, politics and the laundry chronicles said,
[...] felt like I mattered. Not so much to other people, but that I finally mattered to myself. And then Alli made a post on her blog, and I realized what had been happening with me, and that my not paying [...]
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