Imagine…..you’ve been secretly videotaped for several weeks engaged in your everyday routine. Before you are several screen shots of you headed to work, shopping at the grocery store, picking up your children from school, and performing other various tasks. What do you see? No, look past the obvious behaviors and surroundings, what do you really see? Ask yourself: Have I discovered and enhanced my beauty in every way, shape, or form? Before you determine your grade of beauty, it is time to reevaluate our definitions of beauty and embrace this idea of being beautiful in a whole new way.
All of our life, we are led to believe that beauty is perfection. The perfect body size, perfect skin, teeth and hair. We are duped into believing what we see on television and in movies exist in “real life” and our standards should be set by characters in Hollywood. We criticize ourselves for not shrinking back to size threes, six weeks after childbirth, not keeping those extra thirty pounds off in between diets, and not “mysteriously” waking up with altered bodies parts just the way those celebrities have managed to do so. Today is the day that we decide beauty by our own standards and understand that celebrities are paid to create and perfect a polished image and a team of people who dedicate their lives to making you think this type of perfection really exists.
So what exactly is beauty? Beauty is awareness and celebration. Beauty is good health, confidence and happiness. The first step is being aware of your strengths and flaws. In this step you determine what areas you should play up and enhance and what areas you should play down and/or improve. If your eyes are your best feature, put a bit of mascara on to celebrate your gift of beauty. If up-do hairstyles bring out the girl in you, don’t hesitate to bring some youthful years back to your face. Take out a little extra time in the morning to put together a coordinated outfit, one that enhances the tone of your skin and the color of your eyes. Beauty is good health. Dieting leads to a road of disappointment and can be flat out dangerous. A better idea would be to incorporate healthy food staples into your current eating habits; trade off an unhealthy item for a healthy one. An example would be exchanging a daily morning jelly doughnut for a bagel with flavored cream cheese or a fresh bowl of fruit. Love your body and nourish it with lots of water. Beauty is confidence. When you are walking down the street, act as if you are a model on a runway, strutting before a crowd of spectators. Walk with your shoulders back and your head held high. Not only does this poised walk improve your core, it also gives you a look of confidence and a feeling of belonging. Most importantly, beauty is happiness. A smile, small crinkling by the eyes (everything Botox takes away) and a warm spirit is a magnet for good social times. People will be drawn to you, wanting to know your secret to a good life. Beauty is you, if you let it be and embrace the idea of being perfectly imperfect.
