One Word

When I saw my sister a few weeks ago, I obsessed about her hombre-styled hair. And when I saw my classmate in her killer dress, I couldn't stop gushing about how great it was. And when I sat in the dining room with my sorority sisters before a dance, I kept commenting on how flawless everyone looked. And it's true: the women I surround myself with are stunning.

But it's not the dresses, the heels, or the hairstyles that make them that way.

I have two sisters: both equally powerful and intelligent (a path blazed by my mother). I'm in a sorority where women value "doing good" above everything else. I share my education with sharp-witted ladies who will one day become valuable contributors to the agricultural industry. I'm surrounded by the most beautiful, talented, amazing women every day and yet, when given the choice to comment on the things that actually matter, I fall back on the type of dresses they wear??

Tell me, when was the last time you were ever heart-wrenchingly inspired by someone's looks?

I think I may have gotten something backwards in my life... and the worst part is, because of the way that our society is conditioned, it would sound so uncomfortable to say anything other than: "You look beautiful." 

But why should it be that hard? 

It's one word. One word that stands in the way of an over-used, understated observation becoming an authentic, soul-piercing compliment. Look. 

I don't know about the rest of the world, but I am undeniably convinced that the women in my life deserve compliments more meaningful than the ones that fall in the temporary "looks" category.

The crazy thing is that the solution is so simple. It's a substitution and a declaration. It's transforming that observation about looks into a statement of personal worth. It's simply substituting the word "look" for "are." 

You are beautiful. You are fierce. You are stunning.