Woman in the Middle
or
A short tale of a middle-aged woman, a mirror and invisible things
and why they matter more than you think they do
by Karolina Chic
Fair warning: 1 min read on the real reason why mirrors exist
Photo credit: Marc Louviere
A middle aged woman woke up early in the morning and went straight to the bathroom. She turned the light on and had a look in the mirror.
“I am getting older,” said the woman.
“And wiser,” said the mirror proudly.
“Look at this. So many more white hairs,” said the woman.
“And so many more memories,” replied the mirror with mild nostalgia in its voice.
“Oh god, look at the puffy bags under my eyes. Are they ever going to go away?” asked the woman.
“The moment you smile for the first time today, they will disappear,” enthusiastically suggested the mirror.
“My lips are thinning,” said the woman, pouting.
“They are a bit tired after all that kissing and tasting delicious food,” the mirror chipped in.
“My eyes are wrinkly like tree bark,” said the woman.
“Are you surprised after laughing at so many jokes?” asked the mirror.
The middle aged woman just shook her head and took a shower.
Then she went to her bedroom and wanted to get dressed.
She turned the light on and had a look in the mirror.
“Oh god, I am so out of shape. Nothing fits me anymore,” sighed the woman.
“It’s because you always took care of everyone else instead,” explained the bedroom mirror.
“I have nothing to wea… Oh, what’s this?” The woman squinted and spotted a speck in the mirror where the right part of her brain was. She tried to clean it off with her nail but as soon as she touched the mirror, the speck was gone.
“I need new glasses. I’ve started seeing things that don’t exist,” the woman shook her head and was about to start getting dressed.
Then she got it.
She went back to the bathroom and said to the mirror:
“I look so much wiser this morning. And I am grateful for so many beautiful memories.”
“They make me smile and realize how lucky I am to have them. Having seen all those charming places, having met all those remarkable people, laughing at their terrible jokes, being unconditionally loved, loving unconditionally, tasting the best food, kissing the best people in my life…”
Then the middle-aged woman said out loud (because this is how smart people brainstorm): “The beauty of my age is that I am in the middle of something. My life, perhaps—nobody knows the answer to that. But I am always in the middle of my family, my circle of friends, my neighbourhood where I recognize every tree and know everyone’s pet’s name.”
“Middle means a center. Who knows how many people consider me as their center even in only one aspect of their world, of their lives. Maybe I am their center. And that seems like a good enough reason to dress up.”
Image mentor Karolina Chic doesn’t see the world in black & white. She’s the secret weapon of ambitious public figures, touring authors and public speakers ready to move from coffin chic to custom chic in the blink of her highly-trained colour-focused eye – so they can gain trust and persuade the right audience with their awe-inspiring image.
