Because of Resa, at graffitiglam.wordpress.com
I took my second “selfie.” The first one was for the cover of my book. Anyway, Resa and I were writing to each other about how women feel that they have to hide, as they age. That they feel bad about themselves. She did a wonderful post on a Vera Wang wedding dress, colored by street artists. I told her to put the dress on, take her picture, and post it. She said something about being too old (she’s actually young). I said that if I lived closer I would put it on (because I am old) and she could take my picture. Unfortunately, I live in the US and she lives in Canada. But what she wrote made me think. Two days ago I asked Melanie to delete a photo I texted to her of Justin’s graduation…because I’m in the picture. She understood and erased it because she doesn’t like to have her picture take either. That’s wrong.
So, this morning, before I went grocery shopping, I took my picture. Here it is. I don’t know if I’ll ever take another one, but this one is for Resa. ❤
I couldn’t figure out how to take my picture unless it was in the mirror, so I did the best I could. And yes, that is a Superman T-Shirt.
Rethinking Life 
Comments on: "For Resa and her brave words…1 photo (of me)" (64)
Gigi, you look great, and don’t let anybody else tell you differently…
You are so very kind. Thank you. I appreciate that. Women are made to feel ugly, especially when they get older. It’s hard to overcome that. I feel strong and tough but Resa made me realize that I hide from pictures and I don’t want to do that. Thank you again.
You’re welcome..
🙂
You are beautiful!
Thank you so very much. I did it to overcome part of myself that I didn’t realize I was ignoring. I never let my picture be taken. I never post pictures of myself doing anything. I don’t even have pictures of me in Paris or anywhere else I’ve been. So I made myself do this. I am a wild woman who realized that I was hiding from myself. I don’t like that at all. Once Resa and I had discussed it…I felt I had to do this. Thank you again for your kindness. How can I be out there fighting for women’s rights when I can’t even let people see what I look like? Sigh.
I understand, I am just working on loving all of myself as I age. I have been watching Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday and it is so great. It is everything we know but well stated. There is always an “aha” moment. I think we need to embrace this life.
Those “aha” moments are so wonderful! They change our lives. I think we need to embrace being female and taking back our power. Sisterhood really is POWERFUL.
Gigi, this has blown me away. You are beautiful inside and out Superwoman!
Holly, you are so good to me. Thank you. It was actually harder to do than I thought and that pissed me off. LOL I taught and lectured on this stuff and I was doing it myself, at least in this one area. I couldn’t stand to look at MYSELF. So, thanks to Resa, I made myself do it. Women shouldn’t avoid cameras and mirrors as they age. That’s wrong. I’m not young anymore but so what? I have to work on this, it’s a deeply ingrained issue. I knew I was doing it but I didn’t realize how bloody sexist it was. OMG Again, thank you for always being so generous and supportive. You are lovely.
You’re the real deal. I love that!
Thank you for that. ❤
❤
Absolutely Fabulous 🙂 Yay on you…and no i’m not posting one of me!
Scary thing to do, after years of never having my picture taken. Remember how we talked about hating the fact that we had to take one for the books? Argg. I still don’t like it but I did it this morning because I had to. You are beautiful. I hope someday you’ll put a picture of yourself on your blog for all to see. You have to have the right trigger and Resa was mine. I kept thinking about what she wrote. If she felt too old to wear the dress, then I should be buried with the dinosaurs. I wasn’t easy and I thought about it up until the second I pressed “publish.” How stupid IS THAT? That feeling isn’t gone but I did it. Fortunately, the light in the bathroom is perfect for taking pictures…LOLOLOL I didn’t know how else to do it and actually not take a picture of the floor:) You know me, so you’ll understand that. ❤
I am in tears.
You and I are the same.
Thank you for posting this. I am taking bravado in your response.
I will take my pics in the gown & you will see me at my best, and at my age.
If no one takes my pics, I will do selfies.
You look so beautiful… very beautiful, and I am in tears of Fairy Redemption.
You really made me see what I was doing, I was hiding, and I’m grateful. Thank you, my sweet friend. You will look beautiful in anything you wear. I’m way older than you are and because of you, I let myself be seen. 🙂 Yay! ❤ Thank you again.
You have made me see, too! I think I am close to your age, for many reasons. There is only beauty and our honest perceptions of it. I want to be honestly seen, too.
Having worked in the film industry for my career, I know how to present. This makes me a professional liar.
Okay, I’m being harsh, but not untruthful.
Gigi, there is a band playing under me… under my floorboards.
I must listen, and I must meet you.
Sincerely,
Resa
You’re not close to my age but thank you for thinking you are. 🙂 I love that sentence about your career…you’re honest with yourself which means you can’t be fooled and you know what’s going on. 🙂 I hope you rocked out to the music…we have to keep dancing.
Reblogged this on Queen's end and commented:
I admire this person. I am working towards our ideals. You ain’t seen nothing , yet!
Thank you:) ❤
I love it! Too many of us women spend too much time hiding, especially when it comes to photos ( I am one of them-but as I grow older, age and its beautiful wisdom, is making me more brave) Thanks for the sharing the amazingly beautiful photo and post.
AGE ROCKS!!! Let us shine! We are alive. If we are dead, let us shine, for we are a star!
Yes!
XOXO
XOXO to you as well. ❤
Let’s go for it!
Thank you, very much.
That, my dear Resa, is absolutely beautiful and should be on a t-shirt. Seriously…it should be.
We have to band together to overcome the ideas that were put into our heads by the media, example and word of mouth. Brave isn’t just jumping out of a plane…it’s also recognizing that you overlooked something that you were brainwashed into believing…and then change that belief. That means putting your picture on your blog. It’s not looking away from yourself and that’s hard to do in a youth oriented, woman hating, society. Thank you for your wonderful comment.
Beautiful inside and out! There is a nice aspect of not posting tons of photos of yourself as is so overly popular today even with older women. It shows you are not narcissisticly involved as so many are it seems, and you are interested in other things besides how you look. But I fully agree with you and Resa. We should not hide. We are beautiful at every age and you prove the point. well, beautifully!
Thank you for that lovely response. I never have my picture taken, so this is something out of the ordinary. But women shouldn’t hide and feel bad about themselves because they are alive and no longer “young.” I agree with you about too many photographs being taken nowadays. Once I’m up, dressed and out, I never think about how I look. But Rasa made me think and once I realized that I was hiding, I just couldn’t let that pass, so I had to shine a light on it or I wouldn’t be able to call myself a Radical Feminist any longer. Seriously, I just couldn’t believe that I didn’t recognize that blank spot, it was so much a part of me…not to be in any pictures. Oh well, I did it and now on to something else, right? Women are beautiful, no matter their age and we need to pass that on. Thank you again.
I think it’s great that you are overcoming this fear, Georgiann. You look fabulous, by the way… I love your hairstyle. And you are one strong woman, no doubt… 🙂
xoxoxo
Thank you. It wasn’t a fear it was just something I didn’t think about. I just didn’t want to be in pictures. A blind spot I was aware of but didn’t realize that feeling older made me not want to see myself any longer. My mother’s hair was this color, so I inherited it:) I cut it myself and I’m glad you like it. I am really tough and I’ve been out there for years fighting for Women’s Rights, Animal Rights and a lot of other things. I kind of resent aging, and don’t see why entropy exists. LOL I think we should be young and then just die when we’re around a hundred or so 🙂 I don’t like things getting in my way. I also don’t like to have blind spots, so glad that’s over with.
“so glad that’s over with.”
Me too, Georgiann; you are a fabulous woman who deserves to be seen and heard. I’m sure you think that about all woman…!
I kind of resented aging too! I don’t mean for this to come off as an advertisement; though, that will kind of look like what I’m doing. I’m aging backwards, and so can you and anyone (well, the Light Workers of the World, that is) who choose to do as I am doing. I’m blown away by the difference I see in me. And others, in my personal life, are asking me my secret! No special creams, no surgery; just working to remove fear! Easy peasy. 🙂
xoxoxo
I know what you mean. I have never had anything done and I don’t use creams or anything else. I’m so happy things are working out so well for you. 🙂
Georgiann, I do use moisturisers. My guidance, in fact, advised to use moisturisers all over! I use it on my arms, legs and hands. Loving it! 🙂
It’s wonderful that you found something you love. I use Kiss My Face lotion. And, truthfully, I use vaseline on my face at night. LOL Just a little, because I can’t find anything else that’s chemical free. I’m happy with my routine and that’s what matters.:)
Absolutely…. 🙂
I know what you mean. I have never had anything done and I don’t use creams or anything else. I’m so happy things are working out so well for you. 🙂
You look tremendous, Gigi. I want to see more. I can only do selfies in the mirror too. Don’t know how people manage it. Talking about blind spots, cataract operation this morning was successful though there’s bad news as well. Of course!
You are very kind. I doubt whether you will see more. LOL And pictures in the mirror are the only way to do it I guess. LOLOLOL I’m so happy your surgery was successful but I’m sorry to know there was bad news as well. Thinking about you and sending healing energy your way.
🙂
Bewitching; if you don’t mind me saying.
Hmm, what an absolutely delicious word. Thank you so very, very, much.
I had to come back to this because I have a special affection for you, Peter. Kindred spirits and all of that. Your comment made me smile but I’m probably old enough to be your mom. LOL Still, I want to thank you for your lovely word. ❤ It reminded me of some good times. Thank you again.
I did it! I modeled the gown! Norman took the pics on the fire escape.Now I’ll look for a few I like, after they finish uploading.
I will post them on Art Gowns with the Honorary Art Gown article that I’m doing about Tenesa…. the beautiful gown I wore.
OMG send me the link immediately. I’M SO PROUD OF YOU. I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU. On the fire escape. Really, I’m looking forward to this so much. Let me know as soon as you get things settled. Can I follow Art Gowns? I just realized I could follow your other blog and did so right away. Congratulations on starting something wonderful, Resa. ❤ ❤
Will you let me post the picture on my blog when you’re ready??????
Oh yes, of course you can! I’m just going through the pics, now, and must stop to make food. Let’s see, I already started a draft of it, with more pics of Tensoe painting it & a few I took on the Judy in the Art Gown room. I have to add the pics of me in the gown, and I promise I will open with a pic of me in the gown. I have to write the post as well. It could take 2 -3 days.
Anyway, let me send you a mail sneak peek tonight, or in the a.m.
This is outstanding! I’m so happy to hear you did this Resa. The gown is gorgeous and I’m sure you look stunning in it 🙂
She sent me a peek and she’s beautiful. ❤
Eeeek!
Thank you! It’s harsh enough just to be human, and age. However, to be a woman in today’s modern world is a gross injustice, if you are over 40.
I’m being generous here. I work with actors, and one female actor told me she moved back to Canada after she turned 20. She said if you’re over 18, you’re washed up in L.A.
That is horrifying! Eighteen…OMG At what age are men too old? Right?
Exactly!!!!
Men don’t have a shelf life. They have power. Women are expected to be happy when they get anything. How they expect us to watch films where the teenage girl is madly in love with someone older than her grandfather, is beyond me.
Sigh! If there were films that reversed that, I “might” buy the stories.
Hahaha, what normal spirit of a young girl would sexually love a grandfather? Love his money… yeah!!!
I agree. Never gonna happen.
Did you get my pics???
I sent an email at 8:19 but I just sent it again. I don’t know why you didn’t get it right away. Let me know if it still doesn’t come through.
This is soon exciting. Send it to my e-mail address so you can keep it a secret. I can’t wait. I’m sure you look beautiful.
Got your mail!!!!
It’s all about how you feel INSIDE but heck you’re beautiful outside too!! That’s just a bonus 😉 Superman t-shirt, aw!
Thank you so much. I agree with you. How you feel has a lot to do with everything but times can be hard for people as they age, especially for women. Genetics plays a big part in aging as well. But aging and loss kind of go hand in hand and that just makes me angry. LOL