Ever since I can remember, I have been unable to sit still like a normal person. Not only am I naturally fidgety, but I'm always--always--so dang itchy.
It's called eczema. It's a genetic skin condition that causes me to be itchy nearly all the time, in a number of different areas. As a kid, I was always itchy in the hollows of my elbows and knees, and other odd places; now I'm itchy on my neck, shoulders, and arms, mainly, with different areas flaring at different times.
Not only am I just itchy, but my skin gets dry and cracked, and because it's itchy, I scratch it, and it gets red, inflamed, and raw, and often bloody. (Therefore, if you see me with scratches and scabs on my arms and neck, please don't be alarmed... your lack of alarm will be noticed and appreciated. :)
I always used to wonder, before I was fully used to the fact that I was stuck with this pesky condition, why I had it. I would complain about the numerous topical things I had to put on. One time my dad tried to tell me, while putting ointment on the torn-up insides of my elbows, that this skin condition was a blessing I had been given. He told me that perhaps it was there so that I wouldn't take my skin for granted, and that I would take good care of it. He didn't convince me, but that conversation from years ago has stayed in my memory. And last night, I finally realized one very excellent blessing that has come from this VERY annoying skin condition.
It is painfully obvious to me that my skin is far from flawless. It may have been because of this, or it may be because of something else; but I realized that there's not a chance, in this life, that my body will ever be really flawless. Not a chance. So, I learned to look beyond physical appearances. I learned that beauty is something that comes from the inside out--from living a good life.
In other words, this skin condition is a daily, ever-present reminder that, though physical beauty is nice, the really important kind of beauty is the kind that goes much more than skin-deep. :)
It's called eczema. It's a genetic skin condition that causes me to be itchy nearly all the time, in a number of different areas. As a kid, I was always itchy in the hollows of my elbows and knees, and other odd places; now I'm itchy on my neck, shoulders, and arms, mainly, with different areas flaring at different times.
Not only am I just itchy, but my skin gets dry and cracked, and because it's itchy, I scratch it, and it gets red, inflamed, and raw, and often bloody. (Therefore, if you see me with scratches and scabs on my arms and neck, please don't be alarmed... your lack of alarm will be noticed and appreciated. :)
I always used to wonder, before I was fully used to the fact that I was stuck with this pesky condition, why I had it. I would complain about the numerous topical things I had to put on. One time my dad tried to tell me, while putting ointment on the torn-up insides of my elbows, that this skin condition was a blessing I had been given. He told me that perhaps it was there so that I wouldn't take my skin for granted, and that I would take good care of it. He didn't convince me, but that conversation from years ago has stayed in my memory. And last night, I finally realized one very excellent blessing that has come from this VERY annoying skin condition.
It is painfully obvious to me that my skin is far from flawless. It may have been because of this, or it may be because of something else; but I realized that there's not a chance, in this life, that my body will ever be really flawless. Not a chance. So, I learned to look beyond physical appearances. I learned that beauty is something that comes from the inside out--from living a good life.
In other words, this skin condition is a daily, ever-present reminder that, though physical beauty is nice, the really important kind of beauty is the kind that goes much more than skin-deep. :)
Dearest ChocoChip,
ReplyDeleteYou are beautiful inside AND out....just wanted you to know that...I'm constantly jealous of your natural beauty...and the fact that you're so dang photogenic. Rawrves ya!
Simmy
You, jealous of my natural beauty and photogenicness?? Nonsense. (; You've got at least as much.
DeleteThanks, m'dear Simmy! ^_^
Rawrve,
ChocoChip