Hello ladies! I haven’t written on here in so long, that I don’t even know if I remember how to write. As some of you know I’ve recently experienced a terribly, unexpected divorce. What many of you may not know is that my ex-husband left me for another woman. At first I wondered what she looked like and was she prettier than me. I spent a lot of time wondering what she looked like; I spent hours trying to track her down on Google. Many people said, “Have you seen her? Do you know what she looks like?” I believe that it was through divine intervention that I never was able to find her via the internet.
I’ve spent most of my life defining myself by my looks. Unfortunately, I grew up in an environment in which looks were very important. I was a dancer, ice skater, and my father worked around beautiful/sexy women my entire life. I spent the first half of my life on diets, eventually battling anorexia and bulimia through my teenage years and much through my twenties. When I first found out about “the other woman”, I won’t lie; my eating disorder quickly kicked in. However, I had so much recovery under my belt that it also faded quickly. I decided that no man was worth my health or my self-esteem – not even the man that I married.
I’ve been forced to do much self-reflection during this very difficult time in my life. I’ve learned that beauty isn’t really on the outside. It doesn’t matter what I look like, it doesn’t matter what “she” looks like. Beauty to me is walking through life with as much grace and dignity as possible. I no longer care what she looks like; I no longer care if I was prettier. What I do know is that beauty TRULY is an inside job. The love and respect that we have for ourselves is truly the most essential beauty product that we will ever need. Love and respect isn’t sold at Sephora, it isn’t expensive, and it doesn’t carry the high mark-up cost for marketing and advertising – what a bargain!
As anyone who’s taken my Introduction to Beauty class knows, I always said that true beauty began with a good skin care regimen. If you don’t have good skin, then it doesn’t matter how much make-up you wear or what make-up products you buy. I’ve learned something more valuable through one of life’s greatest lessons, TRUE beauty is first embracing the love and respect that you have for yourself. Once you master that, the rest will all fall into place.
As you go about your day today, I challenge you to embrace your true beauty. Don’t put yourself down or find insignificant flaws when you look in the mirror. Today, ask yourself what you can do to love and respect yourself, so that you can be the most beautiful YOU!
Big hugs to you all and stay beautiful!
