#AtoZchallenge - Acknowledge Your Natural Beauty

I could have written about many things for the letter N. I had a list prepared to choose from: nutrition, new beginnings, never give up, to name a few.

But this morning, my husband changed my mind for me. We were in the Starbucks drive-thru, and as usual, I was hurriedly putting on my mascara while he paid for our coffee.

He turned to me as he slid the coffee into the cupholders, looked over and said, "You're looking sexy today."

I laughed, dismissing his remark. I knew exactly how I was "looking" today. Tired. Light makeup. And by light, I mean just a touch of BB Cream and mascara. And it was a ponytail day.

Working out before work means a quick shower and minimal beautifying. Especially when we wake up late.

Sexy is not a word I would use to describe anything going on with me today.

"No, I mean it," he continued. I smiled at him. Let the fool think I'm sexy if he wants to, right?

But then this video came across my FaceBook and Twitter feeds several times today:


Okay, so I've seen this floating around Ye Olde Internets for a while now, but today I finally decided to watch it. I literally burst into tears when Kela viewed her two side by side portraits. It reminded me of Karen Walrond's book The Beauty of Different. You can see her TEDxTalk here:


Karen talks about looking for and appreciating the beautiful differences all around us. I think in order to focus on the differences that make other people beautiful, we must first acknowledge our own natural beauty. In her TedxTalk, Karen tells us to "look for the light" when we look at each other. This is our natural beauty, both inside and out. These are the differences that make us expressly who we are.

Too often I look in the mirror or even down at myself, appraising how my clothes fit or how dark the circles under my eyes are. But when I look for the light, my natural beauty shines through. This is the beauty my husband sees, even when it's just a ponytail day.

I am filled up to bubbling over with passion for life. When music plays, I am completely incapable of sitting still. I laugh, loudly. Tears well up and spill down my face over the smallest of things (and poems). I spend at least a little time every day of the school week reminding children how incredibly brilliant and beautiful and powerful they are. I love my blue eyes, how tall I am, and the fact that I can bust out a workout hardcore and leave it all in the gym. I have seen terrible, horrible things in my lifetime, and I'm stronger because of it. I am inspired when my words or actions motivate others to be stronger, healthier, happier. I believe in the power of people working together for a common goal.

I may not be model thin, wrinkle-free, or sporting rock hard abs.

But I do have natural beauty, inside and out. And so do you. So the next time you're disheartened by what you feel you're lacking, look for the light.

What differences make up your natural beauty?

#AtoZchallenge - Body Image Makeover

Body Image

Okay, let's be honest. When women look in the mirror we don't always see the truth.

For instance, as I near my 40's, it would be easy for me to focus on:

• Those random grey hairs popping up around my forehead.
• New wrinkles. Daily. Seriously. How is that even possible?
• My neck. Don't even get me started.

I could go on, but you get the picture. But the truth is, we all have things about our bodies we don't like. No body is perfectly symmetric, unmarked by time, or sculpted in marble.

And that's a good thing! Who wants to look like a stiff mannequin in a store window when you have a body you've been crafting since birth with its own unique story?

Too often, we focus on the physical look we think to be ideal instead of the physical and mental strength we posses. When I was growing up, my body image was destroyed because of the single purple scar that slashed across my face like an angry lightning bolt. This was well before Harry Potter was popular, so I didn't even have that going for me. As a teenager, I was my scar. I didn't have the tools to separate the scar from the real me. Because of the scar, I felt ugly, marred, imperfect, unwanted.

It took many years to be able to look in the mirror and see me, not just an ugly scar staring back from the looking glass.

But, like attitude, body image begins in the mind. These days, when I'm standing in front of the mirror, I do my best to look past those wrinkles and grey hairs. Instead, I purposefully remind myself of:

• Strong bones and muscles that carry me through every day.
• An easy-going smile shared freely with friends and family.
• Stretch marks that carry memories of bringing two amazing boys into this world.
• And yes, even grey hairs -- marking my years and the wisdom I've gained.

And again, I could go on. But you don't need my personal list of positive body image reflections.

You need your own. So go ahead. Take another peek in that mirror. What is truly staring back at you?