Embracing Your Weaknesses

I'm posting this on Thanksgiving for you few lonely souls surfing the internet today.

Do you see that blog banner above? The gentle hues, drifting toward turquoise? The abstract photo taken by the brilliant Bjorn Amundsen?

Yes, that's my nose.

It's my profile tilted toward its most exaggerated shape. You could say... it's my "worst side." =)

Of course, I don't really believe that... which is why I used the photo.

But I did spend my whole childhood fretting about it. Kids in school called me big nose. Even at my wedding in 2000, my uncle heard someone behind him say, "Wonder where Ben's dad is?" to which somebody else replied, "Look for an older man with a big nose." har har har.

But I posted it because I love it. It gives me something distinctive. Who knows... when I produce films, maybe I'll put a Hitchcock-like silhouette in the opening credits. =)

I've learned that the most iconic people have become caricatures of themselves. Their worst... er... most distinctive attributes are no longer weaknesses, but part of their inimitable brands.

Here's hope to all of you who turn your heads slightly in one direction for photos...

Comments

[Sam]

"I'm posting this on Thanksgiving for you few lonely souls surfing the internet today."

Thanksgiving is only an American holiday you know...we don't all stop living for these 4 days...there's a whole wide world beyond those American shores! :)

[Terri]

Your distinctive profile comes from both sides of the family. We should have had a side-shot taken this past summer when we got together :)

I used to hate mine, too, but decided long ago that it's a family-feature I can live with.

During the photo shoot at my wedding (almost 30 years ago), the photographer wanted Dad and I to turn toward each other while holding hands and looking at each other for a picture. He and I were "talking" to each other while trying to smile saying how much we hated our profiles. Then, we got so tickled when we realized that we looked exactly alike.

The picture turned out to be my absolute favorite of the two of us. I haven't gave my "big nose" a thought since then :)

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

[Natalie]

Sorry I didn't see your nose... your amazing personality was all that captivated me that day!

Hitchcock. That would be a great addition to your story now.

Take care.

[Ben Arment]

sam i need to do an international roll call here on the blog to get my perspective in check...

and thanks terri and natalie...

[Lori Zimbardi]

My maiden name is Barnett and I always said I had the Barnett elbow in the middle of my face. (bend elbow and put fist on forehead) Used to hate it but now it doesn't bother me at all. I think it makes me, me. Took me a lot of years to embrace it but I'm going with Natalie and assuming that my amazing personality is captivating others too.

[Ben Arment]

that's funny Lori. =) let's wear them proudly.