Scars

Last week my office decided to take professional looking photos for our website. We also got to take just for fun photos too. The professional shot was, of course, a head shot. Nothing too fancy. But my fun shot was a wider angel and my head, neck, and arms were in the picture.

Except when I received the picture, my co-worker decided to Photoshop my arm. They removed my surgery scar that is clearly visible on my arm normally. They did not ask my permission, they just did it. I am not sure why they did. But I literally have had that scar on my arm for 38 years. It is apart of me. So, I was taken aback to see that someone else saw my scar as some sort of deformity to be eradicated.

This scar came to me because I came out the womb a stubborn little girl (who grew into an equally stubborn woman). I was two years old and didn't want to go to sleep. My family was still awake in the living room and that is where I wanted to be. So, my two year old self decided to climb out of my crib and go to where the action was! Unfortunately, I fell out of the crib and landed on my elbow, splitting it in two.

My arm surgery scar is my first battle scar with self-directed agency. I decided I wanted to stay awake, so I did. But when someone erases that agency in the name of a "better" picture, in a sense, you delete part of who I am.

Sometimes scars are scars; sometimes they're battle wounds; sometimes they're life lessons; but all the time, they are you.

I wear all 5 of my surgery scars proudly. Do not erase them. Because you are erasing part of me. In fact, do yourself a favor and ASK if someone wants their image Photoshopped BEFORE you do any changes.