Mirror Wake-Up

The mirror is easy to manipulate. You learn the good angles, you glance quickly, you convince yourself things aren’t that bad. But then comes the shock of seeing yourself from a distance — in a photo, a reflection you weren’t ready for, or in my case, a security camera. From that angle it feels like you’re watching a stranger in a video game or a movie, and the denial vanishes. The size, the way you move, the heaviness in your posture — it’s undeniable.

That moment was one of the strongest motivators I’ve ever felt. It wasn’t something I wanted to move toward, it was something I wanted to move away from. I didn’t want to be that image anymore. For weeks I would even avoid looking at those cameras because they put me in a bad mood. But later, after losing weight, the same cameras became a source of joy. I would catch myself walking by, slimmer, lighter, and think, who is that? At first it feels like a punishment, then it becomes a reward. The mirror and the camera stop being enemies and turn into allies that confirm you’ve changed.