I usually dress in the typical stay-at-home mom attire – sweatpants and a comfy shirt. I don’t remember the last time I blow dried my hair. I own a curling iron and eyeliner, but I couldn’t tell you where they are. Maybe buried under extra towels in the linen closet? I refuse to Photoshop out all my freckles, sunspots, and fine lines. I earned these imperfections, whether through stupidly neglecting sunscreen or smiling too much, and I have no desire to hide my skin. You could take away my designer clothes, my makeup, I’ll even give up my hair brush, but please don’t take my red lipstick. Sometimes, a girl just needs to feel fancy.
I truly believe beauty is measured by the way you affect those around you. It has nothing to do with the volume of your hair, how youthful your skin is, or a number on a scale. Society teaches us from a young age what our culture values in physical appearance, and we develop a sense of what we find aesthetically attractive. An attractive person is stunning to look at in the same a painting or well composed photograph holds our attention, but a beautiful person makes the world around them a better place. Beautiful is a feeling. You don’t need to look or dress a certain way to be beautiful, but you do need to love yourself.
People have a hard time feeling beautiful – especially women. It’s bad enough that we are pressured to fit a mold that not everyone fits, but we also struggle with the notion that self confidence is sometimes deemed vain. There is nothing conceited in loving yourself and feeling good about the face you show the world. (Go ahead and read that statement again, ladies. It’s important.) You simply must love yourself in order to positively impact the world around you. A person with confidence – a person who feels their worth – is a strong, productive member of society. Goals cannot be met, and dreams do not come true without confidence. It is one of the most important things we can teach the next generation. Realize what makes you feel fancy and run with it. Nurture the good in the world, be kind, and love yourself. Do these things and your beauty will shine through for all to see.
Some favorites from this week.
