They've got the power
September 26, 2011 at 10:55 
Before adolescence makes a grrrl question everything, she is so sure of herself and who she is.
Unafraid to be different or comfortable in her ordinariness (in whatever form that takes), she occupies her skin and her world with a measure of ease she will strive to recover during high school and adulthood.
Before they learn fear of failure and judgment, young girls believe anything is possible. They're explorers ready for adventure, ready for a different view of the world.
They are also conjurers, makers of magic. I completely fell under the spell of these little goddesses scratching in the dirt, collecting pebbles and fallen treasures.
They are thinkers, dreamers, wondrous creatures.
Unafraid of my camera, lost in the world of their making, they made me realize what I had relinquished as a young adult and regained in midlife: a strong sense of self, a measure of wonder, a willingness to go places I've never been before.
Do you feel your current self is more or less bold than your younger self? What have you lost? What have you found?
Reader Comments (5)
My niece, however, had a really difficult time of it. When she was little, she used to try on all kinds of outfits, and come out and confidently say, "this is how I look". I loved that. Then in high school, she lost a ton of weight, was hospitalized for anorexia, and got into some more traditional risky behaviors, like alcohol and drugs. It was horrible to watch. She's 20 now, and through the worst of it, but I'm hoping the next decade or two might somehow bring her back to 'This is how I look" status. Just happy that you have a pretty pair of shoes on, you know?