Looking in the Mirror

“Love is not just a verb; it is you looking in the mirror.”

— Kendrick Lamar

By: CIW Program Participants

When I look in the mirror, I see a woman who has earned each strand of silver hair. Rather than covering up my gray, I embrace the wisdom that age represents. Life has been a series of valuable, difficult challenges filled with pain, joy, love, and growth. Each experience has contributed to the journey that brought me to this moment in time, looking in this prison mirror, inspecting the changes that come from a life lived.

Paige

When I look in the mirror, I admire my true self looking back at me.

Alofa

When I look in the mirror, I see my strength because just a few years ago when I would look in the mirror, I would see black eyes, cuts and bruises and I’m thankful that I no longer have to deal with domestic violence.

Victoria

When I look in the mirror, I see an old-school soul. I see my culture, my morals, my values. I see my parents through me.

Diana

I see a strong. beautiful indigenous woman. I see an Aztec princess and warrior. I see a wonderful loving mother and amazing writer and most importantly I see me.

Bea

When I look into the mirror, I see a woman in her twenty somethings who is going to make it. I see a woman who has stressed and survived the toxic streams of physical appearance and self-image her entire life. I see a woman who is more focused on her internal world than her external world. I see a woman whose world has shattered, but she’s looking back at me in the mirror reaching for the shattered glass piece by piece.

Grace

When I look in the mirror, I see growth, accountability, generosity, and a person who is no longer reckless…

Belen