How do you get rid of a small double chin?

Confession - I know that, as girls (and guys), there tend to be things about our bodies, faces, etc., that have been our defining features, or things that we actually did like. Well, for most of my life people here and there have commented on my square jaw line. Lame, I know, but I've always enjoyed knowing that I have "straight" lines on my profile.

Tragically, I know that it's just part of growing up, but my profile has started to, how do you say, "soften"? My knifey jaw line has become a little more blunt. First, I started noticing it in a picture here and there, but now I find myself doing the double mirror thing in the bathroom....often. Maybe I shouldn't blog about it - maybe people wouldn't even notice if I didn't. *sigh* Anyway, last night, I felt a little bit too distressed - I actually sat down and prayed that I would see my softer lines and my little age marks as signs of wisdom and a softer heart, and not as the face of an almost 30-year old girl who doesn't feel a day over 21. I want to rejoice in all of the blessings in my life! So many blessings and valuable lessons come with....you guessed it.....time. :)

I really do pray for this - I don't want to be someone that's obsessed with outward beauty and that constantly mourns every little step and loss of my high school body and skin. I know it's a natural process, but it's just really hard to deal with. Guys - YES. Girls do get creeped out at getting older....it's no mystery to them when guys stare at college girls in public places - in the media and everywhere, we constantly have reminders about what is considered "beautiful" and what is considered "ok". Look at all of the crazy things that we do to avoid!!! Eating disorders, surgery, crash diets........So take time to tell someone that is no longer 21 that she is, in fact, very beautiful. Meaning it is even better.


****ACTUAL ITEM THAT I LOOKED UP ON THE INTERNET*****
Here are a few easy to do exercises:
- Press your palm to your forehead for 10 seconds while resisting with your head and neck. You should feel your neck and chin tighten. Repeat the movement with your hand on the back of your head, then on each side, with your hand cupped over your ear.
-Lift your chin up and open and close your mouth as if you're chewing. Feel the muscles under your jaw and down the front of your neck tighten.
-Sit up straight in an armless chair, holding the bottom of the chair with your hands at your sides, tilt your head back and alternately close your mouth pushing your chin forward and them open your mouth as wide as you can.
-Lift chin slightly upward. With flat point of index and middle fingers press against indentation (hollow) formed by the two upper nodules of the larynx located at the curve from chin to neck. Do not be concerned in the beginning as to the precise location of pressure which you will discover through practice. Regard finger pressure as the resistance against the working muscles. Now press your back teeth firmly together and while maintaining this position, press the tip of your tongue against the inside of lower front teeth (gum line) increasing pressure with the tip of tongue in 10 or more gradual and definite steps (Count to 10). Hold end position of pressure for 6 seconds (count slowly to six). Release muscle work for 10 gradual steps (count to 10). Remove finger resistance. Repeat 4 more times.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/ask_doc tor/double_chin.shtml
-Slap under the chin with the back of your hand. When slapping, start gently and build up speed gradually. Do this for a couple of minutes each time, two or three times a day.
-Exercise the muscle called the platysma whose function is to pull down the corners of the mouth and pull down the jawbone. Open your mouth wide, and then pull up your bottom lip over your bottom teeth. Move your jaw up and down as if you're trying to scoop something up with it - imagine the movement of the shovel on a digger scooping up earth or debris on a building site. Perform ten repetitions of this exercise each time, and again do this two or three times a day.

Longing for contentment (oxy moron?),

Les