For years, I hated this picture. Eighth grade was a rough “transitional” year for me. The prior year I had been bullied so badly that I had to switch schools. I’d been so emotionally pummeled by the experience that I really didn’t know who I was, or what I liked, anymore. This picture represented all of that for me.
Last winter, I mustered the courage to post it as my #throwbackthursday photo on Facebook. My friends LOVED it. We had a great time laughing over it. And the sweater, my God.
I decided to take a step further, and began creating ridiculous Photoshop portraits, which I would then post to Facebook. Here is the first:
And thus began my journey of coming to terms with the 13-year-old I’d been stuffing down for three decades.
Result? I love this picture now. I adore this kid, and everything she stands for: survival, resilience, hope.
I hope you enjoy looking at these as much as I enjoy making them.
-Lisa