When I hear the word beautiful, I immediately think of glossy covers of magazines. Pages upon pages of flawless celebrities or impeccable home design or designer handbags. Flawless skin and tresses that can only be achieved in a stylists’ chair. The simple truth is we live in a society that is constantly chasing a photoshopped picture of perfection that we have coined as beautiful, and I understand, completely. There is something incredibly empowering about designer clothes, freshly curled hair and make-up applied with precision.
But, I cant help but think we are getting it all wrong.
The dictionary defines beauty as having qualities that give great pleasure or satisfaction to see, hear, think about, etc. I have to wonder, are we limiting beauty by placing this extremely unrealistic standard on what we consider being beautiful? Please, do not misunderstand the point Im making. Those people and things that adorn the pages of magazines are beautiful. I just don’t think beauty is as one-dimensional or superficial as we make it out to be. I just happen to think that beauty is much more.
This past Saturday, I was sitting on the floor with Braylen in my lap. We were working hard at her new easel, painting a picture. Sometimes she invites me to help, and I always oblige her. She is getting older, and she doesnt think she needs me as much I think she should need me. So, when she calls me over to easel to paint with her, I put a halt on whatever it is that Im doing. I’m positive there is no way it can trump painting with my best girl. I always play the same role at the easel; I paint hearts on her paper while she directs me with adorable commentary. Look, mom, paint a blue one for daddy cause hes our boy. You can paint a lellow one for Coco. Dont forget bout your heart mommy, we need a pink one for the girls hearts. Let’s see, where can we put a BK heart for Braylen? Make my heart green cause I am Braylen Kate Green. Right mommy, Im Braylen Kate Green?
And so I sit, on the floor, with my toddler in my lap, and I paint. My hair isnt at its best, I pull it back in a messy ponytail to avoid it getting in the way of the paint. My clothes? Laughable, this time I’m wearing Allens t-shirt and an old pair of leggings. Not a single accessory in sight. Theres a funny thing about these moments, they are effortlessly beautiful. Every single thing about the scene. From paint stained hands to my less than stellar attire. And I don’t even have to think twice about the importance of this moment. I know, without a single doubt, I would request this moment to be included in the highlight reel.
Yet, I couldn’t possibly be any further away from the beauty I chase as Im getting ready to go out to dinner or to a concert. The beauty that makes me wish my skin tone was a little less translucent and a little more sun-kissed. The beauty that causes me to use those awful teeth whitening strips that taste horrible. You know the one, right? That over teased, over processed version of yourself in clothes that are not as comfortable as they should be for what they cost.
This is the part where I’m supposed to say that everyone else has it all wrong. That we can’t possibly continue to idolize photoshopped bodies and pursue constant perfection in an effort to somehow experience the beauty that we see. This is the part where we join forces to give America a nice, new image for the word beautiful to rest upon.
Not today.
Because that’s not my point. Not even close. My point is simply, there is more. There is more beauty in our lives than the reflection we see in the mirror. Beauty that doesn’t rely on outward perfection, self-image, or the influence of others. Beauty that sometimes can’t even be seen by others, that sometimes can’t even be seen by us, we only know it’s there because of how we feel. You know that version, don’t you?
The one that comes in the form of pajama days and paintbrushes, that blossoms in the midst of messy cookie baking sessions. One that looks best with bedhead and a sleepy smile, one that you can feel no matter how you look. I’m not suggesting that we throw out our makeup bags and live in sweat pants. I’m simply suggesting that we give ourselves a break. That we take a step back. That we stop counting our flaws, stop keeping score, stop relying on something else to give us what we already have; a life full of beauty.
Life is made up of many beautiful moments. The world is full of beautiful people. Museums house beautiful art. Beauty is abundant. Today let’s concentrate on the definition of beauty rather than the image. Let’s concentrate on the things that give us great satisfaction and the people who give us beautiful moments. Because my biggest fear is that I’ll miss one of those beautiful moments while I’m busy trying to find beauty somewhere else.
Connie says
Beauty is this article. I love it.
Andie says
what a beautiful post! Love it! It really is so true… beauty does truly lie in moments!
annie_loo says
Well….YOU nailed it girl! This is all so true! Love this! I’m trying SO HARD to not miss any moments. To just BE. And to be content and joyful in all that I do with whoever I’m with. NO MATTER WHAT!!!!
And what a sweet memory you have with that doll baby of yours painting! That looks like so much fun! Easton would LOVE that!
Jenn says
I love your words here and appreciate the beauty within this very post! Also, I have to say that I love the Starbucks cup in the holder. ๐
Christel says
Such a beautiful post. We all need to sit back and look at the beauty of the every day things.
Whitney Worthington says
Awww so sweet. I love how that picture turned out of you two together! Special.
Lindsey says
You know I could read your posts all day long at this standpoint. This just radiates the joy and amazement that comes with having toddlers and since you and I both have toddler girls, we relate even more so. I love that BK refers to herself in the 3rd person- Kelsey does the same thing and to me it is the cutest thing ever! You should be sooo very proud of yourself because you are raising a daughter that is going to recognize what true beauty is and the fact that it comes from the inside before the outside, which is my exact hope for my girls as well. That painting is worth a thousand words to me, and is most definitely a framer for your house! hehe! She is a very talented artist as well! Much love to all of you, but just know that you are doing an amazing job mama because you are sending such a great message to BK! xoxox