Most teens, girls at least, ensure a time of extreme self consciousness about their bodies.  Whether they have what culture deems a “perfect body” or not so perfect, most are quick to notice their faults and are overly concerned with what others think.

I was no different.

Then there is the concern about what guys will think.  And will a guy ever want to marry someone like me, as if we don’t all have physical imperfections to one degree or another.

These are real concerns.  Yet on this side of things, as a grown woman now with children of my own I can see how shallow those concerns were.

Don’t get me wrong; when you are in the midst of the teen years and in the midst of peer pressure those concerns are of the utmost importance, but with a wider view on life, I wish at the time I wasn’t so concerned.

I never had anyone comment on my mismatched breasts; yet even if I had, one that would comment on such a thing is not worth my time or energy.

As an adult I still sometimes wonder if people notice the difference.  I am post surgery at this point, having gone through a number of surgeries during my late teens and early 20’s to insert a saline implant along with using some of my lat muscle.  But even still my two sides are not 100% the same.   As a result I am never 100% comfortable in my skin.  But those moments of insecurity are now rare and when they do come I can quickly dismiss them as what they are: insecure, unimportant and unfounded.

My family and friends love me for who I am, not the specs of my body.  Just as I don’t judge their worthiness on their physical looks either.  It’s a matter of realizing the things that really matter — and when I am thinking rightly I know that the physical effects of Poland Syndrome aren’t one of them.