Honest post alert! If you like to think of me as perfect you might want to stop reading now – but before you run away, I’m human and so life isn’t always perfect, so get seated my dears, we’re going for a ride down memory lane.
All my teenage life, I yearned for crystal clear skin, I mean that’s what everyone on tv has right? Only the victim of bullying goes on screen with acne and I didn’t want to identify with that so, the fight against pimples began. I actually had clear skin till I was 13/14, that was when the battle started. Just one pimple here or there, but I’d fret about it as if I had cystic acne. Sigh.
Anyways onto the core of the post, fast forward to when I had just passed my final medical school exams, I was feeling like yeahhh time to get some pampering done ahead of my graduating class dinner, and so I headed down to a spa in the next town for a facial and my dears, it ended in premium tears. Every single pimple they touched became a scar.
I literally had the face of a leopard. My self-confidence tanked each time I looked in the mirror and I was desperate for a solution, but all that I found was that only time could heal it, as these were fresh scars. I felt so down. It was meant to be the happiest period of my life having conquered the enormous mountain called medical school, but there I was wallowing in self-pity.
I was extra sad because I had the World Health Assembly a few weeks later and had so many plans to network widely, and felt like my skin was holding me back.
BUT I HAD TO SNAP OUT OF IT!! Yes I typed in capitals because that is how I had to shout sense into myself like babe!!! You’re a beautiful, beautiful woman. These scars don’t define you, they don’t take from your smile or the passion in your eyes – you’re going to go that assembly and you’re going to interact with full confidence!!
Like magic, I forgot about my face haha. I focused on my content, my elevator pitches, my networking goals and I spoke to everyone I met with full confidence. Miraculously, a lot of the spots faded in such a short while, but it didn’t matter to me. Each day I got up, got dressed and told myself I can do whatever I want – through Christ that strengthens me.
I remembered this whole thing whilst going through old photos, I was actually stunned looking back because I’ve even forgotten how bad it was, I know that it definitely wasn’t in my own strength that I got through that period, God really loves me y’all.
So yes! Now I’m doing a whole lot better, I’ve got a skincare routine that I was put on by my homegirl Naphy, and it has really done me a whole lot of good, but above all, I literally prayed to God to sort it out, I’ve left puberty long ago I shouldn’t be fighting pimples anymore lool, and He’s really helped me.
Bottom line is this: nothing is too small to chat to God (pray) about! Absolutely nothing, He’s your best friend and He cares for all of you; skin included.
Till next time,
Dr. ETP