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Eric, I believe our scars, whether visible or invisible, are tools for growth. It sounds as if the manner in which the scar was produced will not be repeated. To me, that is progress (and maturity).

Still, I definitely hear what you are saying. I did something defiant as a teen, and I cringe until this day when I think about it. I have a hard time believing a rational person like myself could have been that stupid. My parents found out, and there were considerable consequences.

My personal lesson? I never did it again!

I think that the circumstance in which you get a scar is a big part of how much you like it. I know that I have a big scar on my chest and shoulder that I absolutely hate and try to avoid anyone seeing, but a big part of that is that I'm embarassed by the situation in which I got it. I'd rather not share details, but it was basically me being really stupid and almost getting myself and someone I care about killed. I feel like anytime people see that scar, they see my failure.

I hear you, Cher; I can certainly understand why you became stronger. Goodness, open heart surgery must have been scary for a ten year old child. Yet, once you confronted the fear portion of the ordeal, it made you better able to handle other fearful situations.

I find my frame of mind sometimes determines how I view my scars. When I feel confident, they are actually not that bad. When I am feeling somewhat less secure, they bother me a little more.

Hmm, I guess we can probably say that about almost any perceived imperfection.

You are right, we should wear our scars proudly if they do not bother us. I tend to be fond of my chest scar, so I rarely tried to hide it. My scar is there because of the open heart surgery I had when I was ten years old. Even though my memories of the hospitalization and surgery have some less-than-pleasant elements attached, the overall experience was positive. [br] [br]How is this possible? Well, at a young age, I was made to face fear. Fortunately, I developed the tools to get beyond it. As an adult, I remember the bravery of the ten year child and can better confront whatever fears come my way.[br] [br]In short, I kind of like my chest scar!

It seems that many people have mixed emotions concerning marks that some individuals perceive as defects. Most of us were not born with scars, so when we get them, we wish they would just go away.[br][br]On the other hand, certain scars can lead us to a type of emotional maturity and growth that would not have been realized under other circumstances. Therefore, we associate the scar or scars with inner strength and fortitude.[br] [br]In my opinion, if your scar makes you feel proud, then wear it proudly. If it makes you feel bad, do your best to minimize it. Whatever serves to strengthen you, do it. You only live once, there is no reason to live in misery.

Amari, what you say makes sense; I think face scars tend to be more troublesome. I have a scar directly above my left eyebrow that I acquired when I hit the area against a nightstand. That particular scar is not pleasant for me to see. I probably should have had stitches when the incident occurred, but instead I went back to bed. Now I am left with not only a visible scar but also elevation above the scar line. Actually, I think the elevation highlights the scar. I can cover the scar, but I can't seem to mask the accumulated inflammation. Any thoughts?

I think it in part depends on when you got the scars. Have those long scars been there for a significant part of your life while the others are new? [br][br]I have a little tiny scar on my wrist that I rather like. It's just this inch and a half long white streak right where my hand meets my arm that a cat gave me. I can't explain why I like it, but I really do. [br][br]But I have another scar that I got a couple of years ago that's only noticeable if I'm wearing something sleeveless and I can't stand it. I look at it year-round wondering if it will fade. [br][br]I suppose location probably makes a difference too. I know that I'd find a scar on my face, no matter how unnoticeable, much more egregious than a scar anywhere else.

We all have our own personal feelings about our scars. Some scars we do not mind and actually enjoy showcasing on occasion, and others we would love to shed.[br][br]It is kind of odd, but I have a few long scars that really do not bother me, maybe because they have become a part of who I am. Other scars are not nearly as noticeable, yet I would love to get rid of them. [br][br]Does anyone else have similar feelings about their scars?