That's the thing about babies. They'll laugh at just about anything if it's dumb enough. Sometimes I think she'll only laugh at me if and only if I look like a total idiot. Funny faces, stupid looking dances...she gobbles it up...because she doesn't care how goofy I look.
All my life, I've worried about looking stupid. I've lost countless nights of sleep over embarrassing moments and worrying about how I come off to other people. For a long time the only things I cared about were what I was wearing and what my hair looked like. It's not a fulfilling life to live. But hey, that's what being young is all about.
Being a mother changes all that. Yes, I still like to look presentable to the world and I try hard to be beautiful for my husband...but that's about the extent of it. I haven't had my nails done in years and I don't dye my hair. I'm pretty plain Jane compared to a lot of girls.
But guess what??? I'm learning that's okay! At the end of the day, I'm a married mother...I've got everything I want. There is no other man or person I need to impress or attract. I landed my man. Of course, being married doesn't mean you get to let yourself go..no, it's quite the opposite. Once the babies start coming and life gets real interesting, it takes even more effort than you've ever given to make a marriage work.
That's the funny thing, isn't it? My husband has probably told me a million times how beautiful I am, how special I am, what a good mother I am...but I still find myself worrying about how I look to other people.
Why?
Ah heck, that's the question isn't it? Why do we care so much? Why does it matter? Does it make a difference if my shirt is from the mall or from Wal-Mart?
Nope. No. It doesn't.
Yes, it's always important to look your best. I try to present the best version of myself to the world because I am a Christian and a mother...traits I want my daughter to emulate and traits I know my husband values in me.
But as far as keeping up with the status quo is concerned...we really need to stop beating ourselves up and embracing the qualities about ourselves that are beautiful. I know it sounds a little cheesy, like that Christina Aguilera song about being beautiful no matter what they say.
In all honesty though, it's true. I feel like (and I know I'm not alone) that I'm always reaching for more. I'm always comparing my life to the lives of others at the expense of my happiness and sanity. I was born to look and think a certain way; just as you are. Being an individual and having confidence in the body you were given is the best thing you could ever do for yourself.
So I've realized, if I take the energy I've been using up by putting myself down and demeaning my own self worth and use it to better myself mind, body, and soul...I think the quality of my life, as well as the lives of others around me, will improve far beyond what I hope for when I look at a magazine.
Take pride in yourself. Whether you like it or not, you are you and there's nothing you can do about it. Be the best version of yourself every single day.
Salma Hayek says, "People often say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I say that the most liberating thing about beauty is realizing that you are the beholder."
-Barbie