While I was in Russia, I not only indulged in idleness and pleasures but also got down to business: I went through a doctor's quest.

In Omsk, I went to a dermatologist to check my moles. After all, I live in the tropics, and they are becoming more and more numerous.

The doctor examined me and said there was no cause for concern, but I shouldn't let my guard down: protect myself from the sun with clothing, SPF, and staying indoors during peak hours.

— Of course! — I chimed in. — I'm terrified of photoaging.

And then the doctor looks at me intently and says:
— Why don't you get Botox?

My eyebrows slowly rise so that my forehead wrinkles like an accordion, and my eyes start to bulge out of their sockets.

I politely ask:
— Um... Why?

— Well, you have a static wrinkle here!

"What does that have to do with moles and photoaging?", I wonder. But all I manage to squeeze out is:
— And...?
— Well, it's actually a marker of aging!
— But it doesn't bother me.

The doctor was clearly not satisfied with that answer. Realizing I wouldn't fall for Botox, she tried a different angle:

— You also have volume loss in the middle third of your face.

"Well, damn! I'm 43, why the hell should the volume stay in place? I'm glad my cheeks have finally deflated!", I think to myself in genuine shock. But out loud I say again:

— And...?

— You should add volume there.

— Really? So I look like I've been stung by bees? I already swell; with fillers it would be an absolute Armageddon.

In short, I decided to wrap up the appointment urgently before she listed a dozen more "flaws" of my face 😁

I walk out and think: what the hell was that?
I came to show my moles; what do my wrinkles and volume loss have to do with it?

🔜 And this tactic is constantly used in the beauty industry.

First, they find a "bug" in a woman: cellulite, a wrinkle, porous skin, etc. And five minutes ago, the woman herself didn't consider it a problem at all!

You know how I first found out that I supposedly have a terrible crease on my forehead? A friend told me. A former friend 😇

And so, as soon as someone says, "You have volume loss here," you're already walking to the mirror and starting to examine: "Damn, it's true..."

A woman's body is generally very convenient to "fix" endlessly.

Not flat enough stomach, cellulite, a fold above the knee, arms that are somehow not right. And in general, it's time to open your yoni and relax your anus (I'm not making this up!) In case you were living peacefully and didn't know you had a problem))

To keep my sanity and not run off to fix everything they point a finger at, I've developed a simple filter for myself:

→ Did this actually bother me BEFORE they told me something was wrong with me?

→ If it didn't bother me, is there any reason to fix it at all? For example, does it affect my health?

It's one thing when I look at my wrinkles and think: "This annoys me, I want to get rid of it." Okay, I'll go and get rid of it.

And it's a completely different thing when I was living peacefully, not knowing any grief, came to check my moles, and they told me my face needs fixing))

And how do you react when they start highlighting "areas for growth" on your face or body? And in general, how do you react to unsolicited advice? Do you tell them to get lost right away, or does a seed of doubt still take root?