I’m not sure at what age little girls begin to doubt their beauty. My six year old granddaughter is still at the confident stage. “Look at me Mima!” she says. Whether it’s taekwondo or just running around the farm, she often turns to make sure I’m watching. Sammi is our princess, and she knows it.
A 50s child, I was that little girl that believed in fairy tales; longing for Prince Charming to be captivated by my beauty so that we would live happily ever after. I was in love with the idea of dressing up and elegantly walking down a marble staircase. At the foot of the stairs, admiring eyes would watch my descent.
Enter the Thought Bully. At some point many of us begin to doubt our natural beauty and start comparing ourselves to others. Our little girl may compare herself to the current look-du-jour promoted by the fashion world. Whether intimidated or frustrated at the impossibility she may move from gladly posing for pictures to wanting to hide from the camera. Our definition of beauty adapts to meet the needs of the people in our lives. After all, isn’t beauty in the eyes of the beholder?
Seasons Come and Go. Our bodies age. We gain weight. We lose weight. Curl our hair. Straighten our hair. Mini or midi skirts? We fall in love. We fall out of love. Our roles change and we expand our definition of beauty to include more than the outward appearance. Purpose and significance show up. We ask the question “Do I matter?”
Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful. With eyes to the past I notice that my woman in the mirror is looking for so much more than feeling pretty. This SENIORita has discovered that “unique” is in. “Normal” changes based on someone else’s definition. Who we are at the core is what really defines us.
On a personal development journey I’ve challenged myself over the years with the following:
What do I believe?
Be who you say you are. But who do I say that I am?
What matters most?
How will your life matter?
Own the uniqueness of your calling.
Legacy—what will mine be?
Be your own kind of beautiful. Show up as you!
Do You See What I See? Psalm 45:11 reads, “The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor Him, for He is your lord.” I’ve come full circle—back to the beginning. In the beginning: God. He created me. He thought me up! Psalm 139:14 says that I’m marvelous! He says you are marvelous! “…I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works.” He knew I would age—all part of His plan. The beauty of our youth fades. Our hearts; however, speak for us until the end.
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23
Life and Death are in God’s Hands. We not only get to choose how we live out our journey but what legacy we leave behind. Our Sammi was born on June 9, 2009. When I held her in my arms I couldn’t help but say “she’s absolutely beautiful.” Three days later I was witness to my mom’s peaceful passing and as she whispered her last breath the word that came to my lips was beautiful. Now my question to you: Do you think you are beautiful? You are, you know. God said so. For more of Maggie Sabatier-Smith, order your copy of The Summer Issue here.
Photo by Agberto Guimaraes
Maggie Sabatier-Smith
Latest posts by Maggie Sabatier-Smith (see all)
- Let the Bully Go! - July 31, 2020
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