When I Was Younger

When I was younger I had smooth skin, hair that I colored because I wanted to instead of needed to, and no glaringly visible blemishes. I also had the ability to find every minuscule fault with the way I looked. I would happily correct any flaw I could find with whatever expensive cream or procedure was available – if I could. It all worked out so well that I felt pretty good…about how I looked on the outside. Is how you look really who you are?

Now, I look in the mirror at every wrinkle I wish I could erase and every dark spot that now graces my once smooth skin and wonder if there’s something out there to correct it. But, I don’t…correct it, that is. I wish I still looked like I did fifteen years ago, but I don’t and I never will again. I want to take care of myself, and I want my daughters to look at me and see someone they think is beautiful. But I also want them to look at me and see someone who is happy about the way she looks and doesn’t have impossible standards for what beautiful means to women.

I hope my daughters can each learn to love every single thing about their beautiful selves. They are each so unique and perfect – curly hair or straight, light skin or dark, tall or short, large or small. Yet I think as I grow older I will need to continue to remind myself of what I want them to understand about beauty. It all comes from within. Live a life that makes you happy, feel confident, and feel great about WHO you are, and you WILL be beautiful…to yourself and everyone around you. That's what I want to instill in my beautiful daughters.