Reflection

I used to cry at my reflection

the fragile girl in front of me

the image that’s paraded in front of me

the girl who I don’t see

I don’t remember who you are

Don’t even know yourself

have you forgotten all your hopes and dreams have you forgotten what it feels like to sing

I used to cry at my reflection

the fragile girl in front of me

the girl who I don’t see

Do you feel the beating of your heart

the heart with the hole in it

the one that loves unconditional without judgement

the one that nurtures

the fighter

the warrior

Resilient

I used to cry at my reflection

the fragile girl in front of me

the girl who I don’t see

the pain

abandonment

self doubt

It’s not your fault you became a product of your environment

You became everything that they said you were

You believed your very own thought that raced in your head

But what you refused to believe is

I am your reflection staring back at you

You’ve wiped the teardrops from your face

Laced up your steel toe boots

throw on your leather jacket

and smile

your thought and what you tell yourself is your worst enemy

I used to cry when I looked in the mirror at the fragile girl staring back at me

I recognize her skin and smooth as silk

smile as bright as the stars on the darkest night in winter

the swag of an 80 year old big mama

and the confidence that radiates across the galaxies

I no longer cry at my reflection

I endured, overcame, fought, and won

I SMILE AT THE FRAGILE GIRL IN THE MIRROR

EVEN WITH ALL HER FAULTS AND FEARS

I SMILE AT THE FRAGILE GIRL IN THE MIRROR

WHO WAS SHE? WELL HER NAME IS

– MAGNIFICENT – YOUTHFUL – INTELLIGENT – SOPHISTICATED – HELPFUL – ACCEPTING

SHE WAS YOU, SHE IS ME

SHE IS – STRENGTH, BEAUTY

I no longer cry at the girl in the mirror

I smile

Behind a thousand tears and buried away all my fears

I have hopes of things that is to be

I HAVE FAITH AND BELIEF IN THAT FRAGILE GIRL IN THE MIRROR I HAVE FAITH IN ME

For more information and tips on living with inflammatory bowel disease from the medical and patient communities, download the Gali friend for IBD mobile app and she will create a personalized feed of articles just for you!