She did not recognise herself in the mirror, and she knew why she received cold or lukewarm responses in meetings and at social events.
Epiphany struck—she was shedding skin and not feeling guilty about it, discarding the weight of expectations. Each layer that fell away revealed a pulse of freedom, raw and unashamed.
She took a deep breath, tasting the air as if for the first time, unburdened by the need to explain.
In that instant, she knew transformation was not betrayal—it was the purest form of truth. It was the mirror that needed to adjust its view.
Creative Experiments and More 
yes! I enjoyed your post Reena, a lovely six sentence story!
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Thank you so much, Carol!
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I really enjoyed and related to this whole piece. Well done!
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Thank you, Jules!
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Beautifully written, fresh and charged, like new & evolved flesh under the dusty, splitting skin.
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I like how you describe it. Thanks a ton, Liz!
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Excellent story, and the comments add even more. Expectations are premeditated resentments, and the 12-Step people say.
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I will remember this – Expectations are premeditated resentments.
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So well done, Reena. I like your 2nd and 3rd sentences, in particular, about feeling “guilty”. How sad is it so many are conditioned to feel guilt after experiencing an “epiphany” or “self-awakening”, anything having to do with discovering and embracing a truer and stronger self.
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We have people around who label all me-time as selfish, because that is treated as the abnormal state.
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funny how we can accept the shedding/molting phases in the life of animals (‘lesser creatures) but when it comes to us it’s different.
Of course, for all too many the pronoun ‘us’ (as in ‘all of us humans’) is a crude but natural tool to pass judgement on others… ‘we are the same to some extent, therefore my opinion should be one that you would accept.’
thought-provoking Six as always
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As I grow older, I’m learning to accept people as they are, rather than impose expectations.
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Well done for her!! 👏👏👏
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Thanks 🙌💕
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Unless one is trying to cover something up, it may be best to resist the temptation to explain.
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Unsolicited explanations originate from mental slavery.
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Love this! “Each layer that fell away revealed a pulse of freedom, raw and unashamed.” Brilliant writing, Reena.
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Thank you so much, Eugi!
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You’re welcome, Reena.
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What a powerful, beautifully distilled piece. It reads like a quiet lightning strike — soft in tone, but charged with truth. The imagery of shedding expectations as “skin” is stunning, and that final line flips the whole narrative with such grace and strength. This is transformation rendered with clarity, dignity, and poetic courage. Absolutely compelling.
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Thank you so much!
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Great post Reena. My SSS is also based on this idea but your is better written
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Let me read yours and then compliment you 🙂
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Aww, thanks. It will be published at 4 pm my time.
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