Why Botox Isn’t Bad nor Good
It's a sunny day.
I’m in my car.
I take a peek in the rearview mirror to check my mascara.
What the f*ck are those?!
Did pieces of mascara dislodge from my eyelashes and go straight into the middle of my eyebrows?
I try to rub it away as if it will come off…
Those dark lines aren’t going anywhere.
Then I googled wrinkles.
There is actually a name for these lines. They are called “11s”.
When googling wrinkles, you don’t discover articles on how wrinkles happen to everyone as they age.
You don’t discover articles on how they are formed, you don’t discover articles on why it’s happening!
You discover articles showing you - no pleading with you to get rid of them!
Wrinkles are not disgusting. You are not an old hag.
This is a true story. That is what happened to me when I was 39 and for my 40th birthday, I gave myself a big needle of Botox.
What Botox Did for Me on the Outside
The effects of Botox were what I hoped for and more!
I didn’t look a day over 35!
And my tension headaches decreased - bonus!
I continued to use Botox to remove wrinkles for about five years.
My first clue that I may not be approaching my wrinkles correctly was that I was lying.
Well, not so much lying as just not sharing information.
A loophole. Not really lying. Just omitting information.
I think it’s called Lying by Omission in a court of law.
I wasn’t hurting anyone, right?
“You have amazing skin. What do you do? Your skin looks great!”
Smile and nod. Smile and nod.
I don’t owe anyone an explanation but with good friends and family, what did I have to hide?
I wouldn’t tell my secrets to the random person at the grocery store who commented on my skin!
But what about when my sisters, who I share everything with, said, “Your skin looks amazing!”? I didn’t share my Botox secret then, either!
When good friends commented on my skin and its appearance, I smiled and thanked them.
How Hiding Botox Made Me Feel on the Inside
Something in my heart knew that I was being dishonest.
When a friend asks me anything - I’m usually a giver of information! I love to share tips and tricks.
“What face cream do you use?”
“How do you get stains out of your shirts?”
“Looking for a pair of amazing readers?”
I am the one who readily gives information.
I love helping people and sharing information, so why wasn’t I telling people about my fountain of youth discovery?
The miracle wrinkle eraser!
I knew I was either being selfish with my results and information or embarrassed to admit I was using Botox.
So I dabbled with telling people here and there but never failed to point out that one of the main reasons I got Botox was that it helped with my migraines.
That took care of being selfish with my information as soon as I started sharing, but I was left with this feeling of embarrassment and shame.
I wasn’t happy with my face. I wasn't happy with my aging face…
Is Botox bad or good?
No one can answer the question for you but for me, the answer was in my intentions.
These days I am feeling safer and more secure in my aging. Now I look at women with wrinkles when they smile or laugh, making me feel like I’m part of a club!
I’m part of a group of women that embrace aging and know that every day is a blessing.
I want to be clear that it is neither bad nor good if you get Botox if you have gotten Botox if you will get it.
It’s neutral, it's a tool you use to make yourself feel good and look good.
And “Good” can only be defined by you!
Will I get Botox again in the future? Maybe, I don’t know. I really didn’t know that I planned on getting it in the first place. I certainly never planned on stopping, as the results are miraculous!
The future is unknown.
And THAT! That’s the beautiful thing about aging.
We don’t know what the future holds.
My future will unfold and I am alive to watch it!
And that my dear Midlifers, to me is GOOD!