Laughter and Happiness

 

There are these mornings where I find myself laughing at myself on the way to class because I'm so damn funny (well, I think I am). I laugh at all my simple bloopers, the embarrassing and ridiculous things I say and do, and more importantly I laugh at how awesome life can be! There has never been a point in my life where I have felt more empowered and happy. And the best part about it all is that its up to me to feel that way, I decide how to be the best me. So here's to laughter!!!  

My best friend sent me this today. Priceless. :)

Everyone needs a cheerleader

After confessing that I was exhausted and had a few blemishes that were coming through (not to mention I was asked if I was hungover today, and I'm not), I received this beauty of a message.... 

"You know what I see? I see a very kind hearted person. I see an amazing friend who is powerful. I see someone who cares and who is beautiful for every reason she thinks she isn't. And most importantly, I see someone who is real. :) chin up, buttercup. Your life is beautiful."

My day significantly improved, needless to say. 

Day 9

Day 9 required a Mentors360 dinner.

I think we all cringed when we put on our business outfits and walked out of the house without so much as lip gloss on; however, there's something powerful about going to a leadership dinner where lipstick & heels are practically required, and we're bare-faced & happy.

It begs the question... which leaves the greatest impression: the person or the make up?

These two are joining me in the journey. 

Jordyn Coon (guest blogger) and Ashley Grucza -- both doing the 30 day challenge and defying everything we ever thought about being strong, professional women.

Four Letter Words

I had the worst day yesterday. One of those days where you'd be lucky if you had just woken up on the wrong side of the bed. And even the struggle bus is late picking you up. And then one person (or three) says the kiss of death: "You look tired." 

And I played into it. 

I put in my headphones, walked in the rain, and listened to "Bad Day" by Daniel Powter.
**cue dramatic movie scene**

I would have owned up to it: my mood was affecting exactly how I saw myself. At one point, I looked in the mirror and noticed the bags under my eyes, the flushed look I was sporting, and the veins that just kept getting darker, and the only word that came to my mind was "ugly." 

Ugly -- the same burning word I would use to describe snakes, rainy days, mean personalities, and horrific football blow-outs -- and I was using it to describe me? Ugly is a word I would never even use to describe another person, so in what universe was it ever okay to say to myself?? Goodness gracious, I should have had someone slap me on the spot. 

Unfortunately, my day yesterday was not that uncommon amongst, well, anyone. We're all guilty of unforgiving thoughts. And I wish I had the answers on how to not ever feel that way, or to combat it when you do. I don't. I am still figuring it out.

But I also feel like that's exactly why I'm doing this challenge. These 30 days aren't just beautiful moments strung together like The Sound of Music -- there are very real days and very real moments. 

The only lesson I can glean from yesterday's experience is that I need to start implementing a version of the Golden Rule: "Do unto myself as I would do unto others."

Day 9 and the day is looking promising. :)

Enough For Me

When Bri invited me to be a part of this 30-day challenge, I have to admit (with chagrin) that my thought process was something along the lines of "This means I can not put on makeup each morning and have a noble sounding excuse for my laziness." I didn't expect it to actually teach me anything. I was wrong. I consider myself to be confident, to be secure in my looks, and most everything else about myself. I have taken enough late night, post-shower trips to froyo, or gone to class without make up (because of the previously mentioned laziness) enough times that I figured a month without makeup would be easy. Again, I was wrong. Because when you go an entire month (so far, one week) without wearing it, you realize what occasions cause you to reach for your mascara and eye shadow. 

One morning last week I woke up knowing I would be meeting a male friend for coffee that day. I was tempted to break my commitment and put on my makeup. The insecure part of me said that he wouldn't think I was pretty enough without it. I reminded myself that I had made a commitment and needed to stick to it, but I wasn't pleased. And then I thought "If he doesn't like my face: my God-given, non-artificially enhanced face, then I don't like him." (Which is a bit childish since this means I'm deciding for myself that he doesn't like my face, when I don't actually know the answer to this question. I think we, as women, often do this). This made me realize that I do have insecurities that I thought I didn't. 

There is a deeper issue that  just wanting to cover up our flaws with makeup. We (at least I do) often put on makeup thinking that if we can just make our faces look "better" that everything else will seem better too. Or maybe everything else won't be noticed because our faces are distracting. There is a nagging feeling in many of our gut that says "I'm not smart enough"..."I'm not funny enough"..."I'm not skinny enough"..."I'm. Not. Enough". And this is a part of ourselves that we need to tell to shut up. Because, who are we saying that we're not enough for? Who are we letting be the standard of what IS enough? And why are we letting those people, those thoughts, make us feel insecure? At the end of the day, we need to be enough for ourselves. 

So, the next time I wake up wanting to put on makeup so that a guy thinks I'm pretty enough, I'm going to look in the mirror and say "I think I'm pretty and that's what matters. I am enough for me" 

Barefaced and Beautiful

When did it start happening for you?

I remember when I was 6 and told my mom that I thought I was fat.
Thanks to my mom, who is one of the most real women I know, that was the first real memory I have of learning about self-worth.

Then I think I was around the age of 10 the first time I begged my mom to let me wear make up. I watched my sisters get ready in the morning and wanted nothing more than to be as beautiful as they were. Oh boy, I would coat the glittery lip gloss and double-layer the shimmer on my eyes every chance I could get. 

I just wasn't pretty enough -- yet -- but with that make up, I could feel bold and beautiful and worthy. 

How wrong is that? 

I watched this video today and was hooked (and horrified) within the first ten seconds. Even if you aren't participating in the Audrey Hepburn thirty-day challenge, take one day this week and participate in the Barefaced and Beautiful campaign. Remind yourself what the lip gloss and shimmer will always be missing out on -- authentic and real beauty.