Karla’s Korner: Pretty Shouldn’t Hurt

Pretty Shouldn’t Hurt….

Australian author Markus Zusak wrote “Sometimes people are beautiful. Not in looks. Not in what they say. Just in what they are.” American writer Amy bloom wrote “You are imperfect, permanently and inevitably flawed. And you are beautiful.” And American comedian Ellen DeGeneres said “Beauty is about being comfortable in your own skin. It’s about knowing and accepting who you are.” More than a year ago I wrote about beauty and shared thoughts from what some would consider unlikely experts on beauty; two men. Those men shared that “beauty is a moving target. It’s ever changing. The playing field is level; it’s a matter of where you are on the field and what beauty means to you” and that “beauty is personal and that true beauty is about make-up; the best kind, because a kind spirit, love, compassion, humor, and attitude are in fact the “make up” that will make anyone beautiful. Often times women seek and search for just the right make up to help us look great. The most important make up can’t be bought. You have it or you don’t. And if you don’t have it, it would be far better to search the world for it rather than a better foundation or blush.” Beauty I believe begins in the soul and radiates outward.

Recently I spotted a social media post from a young lady I’ve known for several years. Laine is a beautiful young woman who attends James Madison University near my hometown in Harrisonburg, Virginia. She is part of the A Capella group Note-Oriety and shared their most recent project, a video based on a song by Beyonce’ “Pretty Hurts”. Finding myself in awe of not only the incredible talent of the group but the lyrics, of which I had never heard before; the message of the song struck my heart. Having spent the bulk of my life thinking that being pretty was something I really wasn’t I struggled to somehow achieve the pretty girl status. You see I, like many others had somehow fallen into the false believe that beauty is a physical, outward thing; that’s far beyond the truth. Beauty is in fact an element of the soul that radiates beyond the physical appearance; it’s the stuff on the inside that shines outward that makes one beautiful.

With tears in my eyes at the end of the video, I found myself reflecting on the time and energy we as a society focus on outward physical beauty. Being beautiful I believe is a culmination of many things, most of which come from within our souls. Quite often the image we see in the mirror is not accurate. We tend to see our imperfections as ugly and rather than seeing them as what makes us unique and ultimately beautiful. Our inner selves need nurturing and when we are at our best inner selves our outer beauty will shine through. Self-care and how we treat our bodies is also a necessary element of being beautiful.. Tending to our physical and emotional needs will radiate the real beauty that is within us.

Embrace the beauty that rests within you. Take time to nurture your mind, body and spirit and you will find your true beauty. My husband David once said “physical beauty doesn’t make you pretty. To be pretty you must be able to feel it within yourself, project it through your heart, and express it with your words, actions and works.” Take a few minutes to watch Note-Oriety’s video and know that pretty doesn’t need to hurt….

Peace,

Karla

I think we all need a touch point a place we can go to be inspired. Karla is my children’s teacher, a good friend, and a person with a heart of gold. I hope that her words will inspire you to do more. We are only as good as the people we surround ourselves with. It is important to listen with your heart and proceed with your eyes open. Enjoy!

Read more Karla’s Korner, also please visit Karla’s Lifetime Moms page and read her articles.

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