Who is reflected in the mirror?
If I had to write this story, a year ago, my story would be utterly disturbing, because back then I
had no appreciation for the inner self I am so blessed with. Society and how it conditions us is
partly to blame for my thoughts, and, the language used when I looked at myself in the mirror
then was so desolate and tired. All I saw was a girl with a balloon face and lips too thin to be
considered pretty, eyes that had changed its shape due to a thyroid problem, she felt ugly
outside and inside. She forgot that what the mirror showed was merely physical, she was much
more than just that! I have realised that the inner self is of far more significance than the outer self,
regardless of what anyone else thinks!
I, Zainub Bibi Hoosain stood in-front of the mirror today, 09 March 2018 and asked myself the 3
questions below:
1. Is the human being the image reflected in the mirror?
2. Is the human being the image people see when they look a person in the eye?
3. Is there something else inside a person, invisible, which causes that person to be what he/she
in fact is?
I believe with complete and humble sincerity that I am no longer living in a world where my
outer beauty determines who I am… NO! I am an honest, courageous, intelligent, beautiful
helper whose purpose on this Earth is far greater than a mere physical presence. I am here to
serve others from a position of love and care. I am a daughter, a wife, a mother but most of all I
am a beautiful creation and one of a kind – YES! There is always only one of “YOU”. What a
beautiful thought that is. We are unique in every way including our language and culture. We
may all speak a certain language when we have a similar background, but we speak, understand
and write it so differently. There is no one correct way of doing this. It is a great pity that there
are some who just don’t appreciate this uniqueness we are blessed with.
I am a survivor! Survivor of what society wanted me to become, or the norms they expected of
me. I am simply “ME” and I love “ME”. I certainly like what I see every day because my values
are to live a life of unselfish, unconditional love and care for others and myself. I want to
empower and touch others’ lives using my language and culture to my advantage as well as the
advantage of others. I would also like to learn from others, language, culture and so much more.
The behaviour of others will not alter what I choose to be when I wake up each and every
morning. Like the dewdrop on my rose tree or the little yellow bird singing on my rooftop at the
crack of dawn, I am free just like the dewdrop and little pretty bird.
I am “ME” Zainub Bibi Hoosain. This is what I see when I look in the mirror!
