Thoughts of beauty have been floating through my mind these last few weeks. I've talked about the beauty in life and in the "things" around us that we find beautiful. I haven't talked about our own beauty and how we see ourselves.
Yesterday I was reading Brene Brown's blog and one of her posts discussed beauty. She shared three video clips that weren't just powerful...they were profound.
When I jumped over to Kim's wonderful blog the The Queen of Arts was talking about the same thing...beauty. It was one of Kim's usual excellent posts filled with deep thoughts and provoking questions. It's a must read.
This morning my friend Kathy sent me an email depicting female celebrities with and without make-up. The universe seemed to be telling me something.
I copied the before and after photo of Goldie Hawn because this one spoke to me so strongly. Mostly about age and beauty. I fully appreciate that Goldie Hawn has worked in and continues to be part of an industry that promotes and values beauty and youth in women. The entertainment industry demands that women maintain a facade of ageless beauty, almost at any cost. A dangerous message sent to young girls, not just young women, I'm talking about children. Who am I kidding...it sends a message to any and every female from 0 - 100.
That aside, it was refreshing to see Goldie Hawn "as she is". She's still a beautiful woman and as a woman who is gaining in years, it made me feel good to see her looking as she is and not how the industry wants us to see her (or she would like to be seen). There is beauty in age, in being able to count those wrinkles for all the reasons we have them. To see the extra weight and the soft curves and know why they are there. Some of us are no longer 20. Or even 30. Acceptance is part of beauty. Being yourself and being "real" are part of beauty.
Are you brave enough to say "I am beautiful exactly as I am."? Go to a mirror right now and say that. I dare you. Now go and post about it.
As Kim asked in her post, when did you last feel beautiful?
9 comments:
Whew..now there is a challenge for me today. Look myself in the eye through the mirror and tell myself I am beautiful ? Maybe if it is just from the shoulders up. It's a start, right ? ;-)
Happy Wednesday, Beautiful Sherry !
It's funny, but at 45, it's much easier to say than it was at 25. I think it's because I know myself better, now. Thanks for the challenge!
That's hard. Sometimes I catch myself in the mirror and say, "hey, not bad..." but rarely if ever have I said, "what a babe" unless I was mocking myself. Isn't it something that so many of us think and feel like that?
How are you haven't heard from you latley...great post..I did post with no make up... a Self Portrait.
Your post is very moving...thank you it is harder as you get older especially if you a visual artist...but as women we want to revel beauty...and we do in small and big ways...so the Graceful growing old is a new practice for us.
Kim's posts are awesome indeed! The mirror can be a rude shock and I must admit to avoiding it other than to see I am presentable! When did I become my mother?
I continue to appreciate your writing and graphics. I have added you to my Cancer Blogs Links Page. Take care, Dennis beingcancer.net
It was a bit of a shock to see Goldie " bare " ! I guess we`re used to the spruced up celebs looking perfect - and then someone snaps them as is , just showing that they are human and beautiful in the sense of making us feel more
like "everyone else " - but still individual in our own right.
and my other half tells me i`m beautiful - it`s something that i will have to tell myself now and then .!!
This is something I have always struggled with. We have been fed such a vision of what the world says we should be. The video from Dove beauty on Brene Browns blog was profound. Not only are our girls told that they have to fit a narrow definition of beauty, but the message is highly sexualized, as if the only reason women exist is to service mens fantasies. I am a mother of daughters and have tried to raise them to to think of themselves as smart and capable with so much to offer the world along with their own unique beauty. This really needs to be addressed more, and I thank you for adressing it here:>)
Great thoughts..We are so much more than our physical appearance.
xoxo Nita
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