"What the Mirror Never Showed Me"
- Kathy Mattoon
- Aug 20, 2025
- 4 min read
For most of my life, I haven’t liked what I saw in the mirror.
People say, “You’re your biggest critic.” And sure, that’s partly true – but it’s not the whole story. The truth is, society plays a big role in how we learn to see ourselves. And for me, it started young.
Growing up wasn’t easy for a lot of reasons. If you’ve read some of my past blog posts, joined one of my lives, or even had a conversation with me, you might know a little of my story. If not, I invite you to follow along because I believe parts of it might resonate with yours.
From early on, I was different. I was adopted, and it was clear I didn’t quite fit in – not just in appearance but in spirit. While my adopted family tried to mold me into someone I wasn’t, I was out in the yard with a tin pie pan making mud pies. I was that sweatshirt-and-jeans girl, playing with Matchbox cars instead of Barbies, riding my bike everywhere, climbing trees, getting dirty, and loving every minute of it. Being outside was my sanctuary. It was the one space where I felt free to just be.
Want to read more?
Subscribe to relatablewords.com to keep reading this exclusive post.
