There was a time when I didn’t feel pretty UNLESS I had on eyeliner and lipgloss. I eventually got to a place where my prerequisite consisted of eyeliner, eye shadow, lip gloss, and mascara. I’m thankful that during these times and to current date, I have never felt a need or had a desire to add foundation to that list. Sure, if there is a special occasion, I MAY opt for a little foundation but 9 times out of 10, I will have scratched or rubbed it all off before the night’s ending. It’s just not for me. Please understand that I am, in no way, knocking anyone who currently has any of the above on their “I don’t feel pretty until…” list. I understand that some people deal with skin issues or other conditions that they are uncomfortable with and some people just LOVE makeup! They love playing in it and wearing it! No judgements here! I love the look of makeup. I just don’t have a huge interest in it. Anywho…
Fast forward 20+ years & a fuller face later and I can take all of the other stuff or leave it. I think the most consistent application that I apply to my face these days, is a brown pencil and a concealer stick to do my brows. There are those times when I do feel like getting dolled up whether it’s for a night out, traveling, or having a random “I’m bored, so why not put on some make up and have a cute lil’ photo shoot” moment. lol I actually have a few of those moments! Some may say too many, but when you are doing it foe yourself, it doesn’t really matter what others think. When I do get my face together, you CAN’T TELL ME NOTHIN!!! LOL
Today, I opened my camera to take a photo of my finished water bottle (post coming) and it was on selfie mode. You know the feeling you get when you happen to walk by a mirror or a store door and see yourself and you’re like, “DAMMMNNNNN! She’s cute!” Hell, sometimes I reverse so I can see myself again! Awwww mann! When I opened my camera up to myself, I felt this. I felt pretty. I felt beautiful in fact and it didn’t require anything, but me. Oh an there was Michael checking me out from afar… (lol… last photo)
The reason I decided to write this blog post is because there was a time when I didn’t look in the mirror and see pretty. There was a time when even after applying a eyeliner and lipgloss I still didn’t feel pretty enough. I am thankful for my growth in this area. I am thankful that I can look at myself in the mirror in ALMOST (lets not get too carried away here…lol) any state and see my beauty. It is not the beauty on the tv screens, magazines or across social media, but this pretty is mine. It belongs to me. Want to know what happened or where the change came from? I stopped comparing myself to other women. No amount of comparison could make me look like anyone BUT ME. As long as you are constantly comparing yourself to others, you will gather the notion that you will NEVER add up and that feeling can lead you on an unhealthy, unloving, never-ending journey. It’s the same journey that has a lot of people out here looking like jigsaw from the SAW movie. Okay, let me reel it in!
I want YOU to know that you are beautiful. You may already feel this way and don’t need to hear it from me, but there are so many people who just don’t. This post was for you. Claim your pretty!
I AM EBONY 