Tuesday 11 October 2011

Survival of the fittest?


My dear friend sent me a t-shirt with this picture, the epitome of survival. In many ways, I am also a picture of survival. Each day I put on my gorgeous hair, fill in my brows, create the illusion of lustrous lashes with make-up, and dress myself in something fashionable. I head out into the world behind this veneer of health and vitality and I seem to have everyone fooled. I take pleasure in the fact that no one offers me a seat on the metro and that perfect strangers stop me in the street to ask me where I get my hair done. I get my new chemo treatments on Mondays and I always go in looking my best. Though I get a lot of positive reinforcement for my appearance, I am starting to question whether projecting this image is respectful in an environment where so many great people won't survive. It is ok to survive, but is it ok to flaunt it?