Real Beauty Sketches – VS – As We See OurSelves

http://realbeautysketches.dove.us/

This link was sent to me by my 21 year old son………obviously I have a wonderful son! I as many other women may get caught up in the age old conundum of feeling not-good enough or not-pretty enough once in a while…… I’m assuming my son does not agree and that is a heart warming feeling.

Unfortunately, this society is so caught up with looks instead of substance we may seem to have a skewed view of ourselves and it isn’t healthy. It is affecting our youth at an alarming rate. There is cutting, obesity, bullying, anorexia and so many more problems stemming from consumerism that isn’t even realistic that it’s a shame. It’s actually refreshing to see that DOVE brand is trying to do a little positive spin by showing that we are all more beautiful than we think. If you go to this site, some of the links aren’t as great as others but some also show how photoshopping also make “stars” look better than they actually are! Unfortunately perhaps too much of the public believe the whole fake beauty sham of Hollywood and feel worse about themselves because of it and mostly can’t live up to this ridiculous unreality.

There are many more days that that feeling does not bother me, don’t get me wrong, I believe I have a healthy well of self-esteem deep within me, so don’t think I’m a neurotic. I also don’t believe it is only women who feel this way, I’m sure men have their own self doubts with the GQ men out there like Brad Pitt, Mr. Obama, the self-proclaimed eye-candy he is (Ha ha) and David Beckam that well-known soccer player who’s so good-looking.

The thing is we need to base our lives on deeper things, not what the mirror tells us or what society tells us. We need to believe what we feel inside, if we are happy and we need to seek that out for ourselves. We can’t listen to self-doubt. We need to love ourselves for WHO we are and foster that. Societal trends change, they are fickle. Not everyone can wear a size 0, not everyone can afford a Coach purse and who cares? It should matter who is kind, who is happy, who is in touch with their inner self, perhaps. Who helps others, who does a good job at an important world altering profession instead of worrying about who is amassing the most, let alone who is telling us what to wear or what to buy or what is cool, or what is pretty. Why do we let others dictate how we feel about OURSELVES? Who are these people? What have they done to be put above ourselves as role models except by trying to hawk things that they want us to buy to be more like them? I don’t really get it. But perhaps that’s the problem in America, the consumerism capital of the world……

Okay, off my soap box……..

But I believe we need to work on the inside and find what makes us truly happy and the beauty will shine through…though taking care of ourselves on the outside won’t hurt by eating healthy, exercising and using some beauty products, of course!

(C) Evelyn Garone 4.16.13