After getting a few facials in the past several months, I have decided to pay more attention to keeping my face healthy. I know that may sound weird, but my face has been very dry, and I have been told that if I don’t do something about it that blood vessels will start to break and that it will show on my face. So, honestly, it took having my vanity threatened for me to do anything about it. Now I am cleansing, hydrating, and exfoliating my face like a champ, so we will see how that works. Regardless of my new process, it has got me to thinking about our faces in general.
Our are faces important? I think so, and I’m not the only one. National Geographic magazine did a large cover story on a facial transplant a few months ago, and it is pretty hard to go throughout the day without seeing a face, whether on TV or in print or in person. Faces are everywhere, and they are an important part of our identity.
No doubt depression and mental illness can influence our face. It can change our facial expressions, and it can convey the sadness or anguish we may feel. But, by being a “face of depression” or other mental disorder, we can show people that those affected by depression or mental illness look almost exactly like any other faces in the world. Our faces can be a powerful force in conveying the need for treatment and the hope of recovery. Does this mean we need to put make up on and look a certain way? I don’t think that is the case. I think the hope comes in showing our faces, no matter what they look like. And, while I think it is good to take care of yourself (including your face), the important piece is to try to show your face and tell your story.