Want to be beautiful? Start from the inside

Lately I have been designing the bathroom for my girls. When deciding paint colors, I really wanted a purple room and since Lil Bug really wanted a blue bedroom, the hall bath became the room that was painted purple. Since doing so, I then started trying to decide what theme I wanted to go with the purple bathroom and what artwork I wanted to make for it. I have thought a lot about this because it is a room that my girls are going to spend a lot of time just getting ready each day. What sort of impression did I want to convey in a room where we focus so much attention on how we look? I decided I wanted to go with a Beauty and the Beast theme.

Coloring Book from Amazon

The fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast has long since been one of my favorites and I have always loved the character of Belle in Disney’s version. She was someone who didn’t need things or praise. She was confident in who she was and in being confident in herself was beautiful. She was different from others but was okay with that. But, what I really love about the tale was that she saw beauty in someone that others’ couldn’t see the beauty in. When others focused on the outside, she focused on the inside. To me, that is where her true beauty lies. Her ability to see beauty in others.

It wasn’t about appearances to Belle. She came to see that there was beauty in the beast, that he was worthy of love. We can all do that. Let’s strive to see that others are worthy of love. And that we as well are worthy of love.

The other thing that made Belle so beautiful was how comfortable she was with being herself. She didn't care that she was different from others. She was confident in who she was and it showed. Confidence is the ability to love who you are without putting others down. It uplifts rather than tears down. As introverts, it is possible to be self-confident in our own quiet way. Embrace who you are, including your ability to ponder in your time alone. It is our quirks and personal tendencies that make us who we are. When we embrace who we are, it shines through, and the beauty of who we are is seen.

I remember in elementary school, reading a book that taught me another aspect of true beauty. It has stuck with me all these years. It’s called, “Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale" Not only is it beautifully illustrated, but the moral of the story is even more beautiful. It tells the story of a man and his two beautiful daughters. One was vain and failed to see others. The other daughter not only saw others but she sought to help them and unknowingly helped the prince as well. When the prince chose his bride, he chose the one who was beautiful on the inside. Her beauty was found in her ability to help others.

Who do you see as someone beautiful? What qualities do they possess?

I love this quote from Audrey Hepburn: "True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It's the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows and the beauty of a woman only grows with passing years."

The other day I had the opportunity to get to know some amazing women from my church, leaders of the young women aged 12-18. What did I see as I got to know these women better? Beauty. Radiating from within them. They were excited to be there and ready to help the youth in our church. Each time I make a positive connection with others I am amazed to realize that I am surrounded by beautiful people. They radiate that beauty within their souls. These young women leaders were radiating light as they looked forward to helping the youth.

My hope for my girls as I decorate this bathroom, is that they will understand what true beauty is, that when they look into the mirror, they won’t look down on themselves for not looking a certain way, but that they will look into the mirror and see the light shining within them. The beauty that lies within. I hope that they will see someone who seeks to find beauty rather than put it down. I hope that they will see someone who brings others up instead of puts others down. And I hope the same for you.

I Hope You Fly: A Letter From An Introvert Mother

My dear daughters, 

So often when I reach the beginning of something I worry about falling. I think this each time I need to take a leap of faith, whether in myself or whether in my trust of others. I worry that I will make a mistake. I hope you understand that while you may make a mistake, it will not define you.

Sometimes those mistakes may be not taking that leap of faith. There have been times when I have held back, but, in those times when I have held back, I didn’t fly either.

I know what it is like to be afraid. To not want to step outside my comfort zone. To say hi to people I don't know. But, I want you to know, that I have grown from those times when I pushed past my fears and did what I knew was right and what I knew would make me happy.

I’m not referring to pushing yourself to be what everyone else thinks you should be. If it is not something that will make you happy in the end, you don’t have to do it. Understanding what will make you truly happy is what will help you to fly.

So, my beautiful girls, there will be times when you will be anxious, there will be times when you will feel like you will fall if you move forward. But, I want you to know that if you take that leap, you might very well fly. And if you continue to leap, you will fly.

Some may call you shy, some may call you sensitive, but I want you to know that those very things also give you strength. Those strengths will help you to understand your fears, and to face them. Not only face them, but overcome them.

There will be times that will be difficult, that strength may be hard to find and that you may not see it within yourself. But, it is there. The Lord is always there to help you find that strength. Trust in Him and believe in yourself.

Oh, my dear daughters, I hope you grow up stepping outside your comfort zone in order to fly. I hope that you take the strengths that you have and use them to bless the lives of others as well as your own. I hope that you won’t get caught up on what the world may see as weaknesses but that you’ll understand your weaknesses and then see the strengths within them.

I hope that you fly.

Whatever you are going through, wherever you may be in your life, whether you are ready to fly or not, know that you can succeed. Believe. Believe in yourself. Believe that you can fly.

I love you, Mom.