On Being Beautiful

I was listening to the radio on my way to work. The hosts were talking to these two teenage girls at a local high school who were working on a project which slowly became a great initiative for young women's self-esteem.

The girls were talking about the stigma around the media and how it puts stress on girls/women to look and act a certain way. They got permission from their school principal to post positive messages on the bathroom mirrors, "You're beautiful just the way you are." 

It is all in the hope that when the girls go to check their make-up, they have a reminder that they don't need it to be or feel beautiful.

Although, having make-up is a bit of a security blanket. But that's a post for another day.

It's a bit sad though how we are so pressured to buy make-up and try so hard to look beautiful. And it's true. It is absolutely 100% posilutely true. Being a young, twenty something woman, I can totally relate.

It's funny how this realization came on my way home from a dinner I had with Mister last night.

We were talking about photoshopping heads on the bodies of Hooters girls (because who doesn't wanna be a Hooters goddess?) and  I made a comment about how he should photoshop our heads on to bodies so that we would actually have a photo of us. He came back with how he did not like his photo taken, which honestly disappointed me because I would love to have a photo of us together. Honestly. But then, I had an epiphany of sorts...if I can even call it that.

I don't like my photo being taken either....unless I have make-up on. Which I know is silly and probably preposterous, but it's true. I just feel prettier being made up. Then again, don't we all?

If Mister was here, I know he would be saying otherwise. He always says that I look pretty/beautiful without make-up and in fact, he prefers it. I often think that it is something all Misters say to make us feel good about ourselves. Like it is in the Relationships: For Men handbook or something.

I wish I had someone telling me all this through my several years of being bullied and outcast because I wasn't my peers' idea of pretty or beautiful. If anyone can relate, they would know that this does a number on one's self-esteem.

However, I grew to learn that being beautiful isn't just what is on the outside, that is only a tiny fraction, it is being a beautiful person on the inside which matters most.

To be able to feel good about yourself.

"You should feel beautiful all the time."
                                         - Mister

I think those girls are on to something.

Lessons I Learned Down Under

Lately, my mind has been in a zillion different places. I often find myself thinking and congratulating myself on how far I have come and how much I have grown, especially since returning from Australia.

I have realized that while the past year and a bit has been one hell of a roller coaster ride, so much of me has changed, the credit goes to the lessons I learned Down Under.

Take opportunities for adventure. Even day trips. Half day trips. Two hour trips. Anything is an adventure if you make it one.

Never forget how significantly insignificant you are. When you stop and look at something so vast, it really hits just how insignificant we really are on this planet. 

Enjoy the little things. 

Emotions are connected to the heart, if your heart isn't invested, you aren't invested. For a long time it was easier avoiding getting hurt. Heart break is terrifying, but dating is no fun when you know there is no future. 

It's important to meet people. They have the potential to be a part of the rest of your life. It hurts terribly missing them, but some people are just meant to be in our lives. 

An adventure is more exciting when you have someone to share it with. Results: Extreme laughter and inside jokes. 

Invest in things that make you happy

It's okay to be afraid. Of love. Of adventure. Of letting go. 

Happiness comes from letting go. 

Life is meant to have obstacles. You've just gotta work with what  you have and hope for the best. 

It doesn't hurt to try something new. Like Kangaroo steak. 

Each day is a new chance to get up and try again. 

Don't give up on yourself. This one is a constant test and struggle for me at times. Still not giving up. Life is too much of an adventure. 

I don't know why it took so long to have to learn these lessons, but I suppose when you have one year of adventure, you are handed lessons and you have the potential to learn more about yourself than you thought possible. Why can't it be that easy being on home soil?

I just wish that it was easier finding adventure in the mundane. 

Thoughts?

Insomnism and Disney Raves

First of all, insomnism is a word. I promise that it is a word I just made up. But a word nonetheless....in the dictionary of Stephanie, anyway.

Every now and again, I have a night where it is especially difficult getting to sleep and equally difficult staying asleep. One of those nights graced me with its presence at the beginning of the week. And by graced with presence, I do mean barged in and rudely interrupted my beauty sleep. Can't anyone stay pretty without being rudely interrupted by insomnism? Sheesh!

Granted, my mind was still busy trying to shut down after finishing my 101 in 1001 post (which I am very proud of by the way), but still that is no excuse to keep me up all hours of the night, Brain!

As I lay on my pillow desperately trying to calm my brain so I could somehow doze off, Just Around the Riverbend  starts playing on an endless loop in my head. I am well aware that I am a sucker for all the Disney classics and I adore Disney tunes, but it's sort of a bad time Brain when I am trying to fall asleep at a decent hour on a work night.

Busy thoughts at any hour are enough to make your head explode.

In fact, I had never wanted to fall into an 8 hour coma more than I did that night. It is always when you want to put your thoughts to rest that they instead decide to throw a Disney rave. Thanks Brain. I love when you keep me awake at night.

Maybe I should just be a bat.

I could sleep several hours a day. Only come out at night. Have a strict diet. And have no idea what Disney music is even. Poor bats.

I would fly without a care in the world. Literally, because they only care about eating bugs and sleeping. Protein and sleep, I can live with that.

Oops, looks like I was dreaming again...that must mean sleep is on the horizon.

Until next time