Self portrait attempt series, one of four

The cagey boxing stance and having weaved to my right (or the left side of the image, deliberately not centered) represents social anxiety and the potential for evasiveness or defensiveness. The mostly-obstruction of my mouth represents in some way my efforts to hide a lifelong speech problem, where I have gone to phony measures to make it appear as if some phantom problem like a cough or burp momentarily got in the way so that strangers don't spin their mental wheels wondering if I'm drunk or high or just stupid; I am also known to cover my mouth with a hand when I am having a particularly embarrassing degree of difficulty, which is more directly represented.

My shoulders are up in a fighter's tense hunch. Like a fighter, I seem to steel myself for confrontation in all sorts of social settings, even when nothing bad ever presents itself. All too like a boxer, I can steel myself all I want, but (as a kung fu affiliate would concur) no part of my body is ever truly "ready" to be hit hard; some parts can be made ready to sacrifice their comfort to protect others, but no amount of preparation stops the pain of being struck.

I'm only posting one of four. You're welcome to click through, navigate the stream and see if you like any of the other three better.