I once thought it was the end of the world to have a leg consumed with scars. The day I shattered my ankle was also the day I began to worry about the scars that would run all over my leg. I wondered what people would see when they saw these scars. I wondered if they would notice that my ankle was more of a cankle. I worried so much about what people I couldn’t care less about would think. That was my problem.

In the beginning, I would look down at the incisions, thinking of the worst case scenario. I pictured scars that looked as if they were created by Jaws, when I got something a bit prettier. I got a story. The ten inches of scarred skin no longer seemed to weigh down on my self-esteem. Instead, I embraced the scars. I learned that rather than representing my pain, they represented my bravery. Four surgeries, and nearly a dozen scars later, I’m striving to love each and every one of my scars.

There are days when I wish I could take a picture and not have my eyes drawn to the thin white line and red dots on my leg. There are days when I attempt to wear the heels that I know I can’t tolerate wearing. There are days when I wish that I could go back in time and un-break myself. But in the end, I enjoy looking down and knowing that I made it through the hard days. I take pride in knowing that I’m on my way to a brighter future and the lowest part of my life has passed.

Life is filled with imperfections and I am no exception. Neither are you. Of all the sadness and pain my leg has brought me, my scars have brought the least hardship. I may never run a marathon, or take a ski trip; I might not even be able to jump rope. But I’m here, and those scars prove it. I chose to look past those scars, and rather than fearing more, I embraced the scars that multiplied on my journey to a healthier me.

These scars have given me a story. They have supplied me with an interesting tale to tell those who see them, and even some who don’t. It's a story of nearly four years of perseverance. I am not ashamed of my scars as I had been once before. Now I have learned to live with them.

Wherever your scar or scars may be, embrace them and tell their story. You didn’t go through the pain of receiving them for nothing. Learn to love them, because they are a part of you and have lead you to become who you are.