 This picture is me at 16. Looking now I see a beautiful young woman, so serious about life and where it was leading her. When she looked in the mirror she saw her bad skin, her big nose and imperfect teeth. She was too shy to speak in a crowd and stuttered over words when having a discussion one on one, even with her friends. She doubted her own judgment and failed to see her beauty. Move on a few years and this is me at 24, a very young mother of 2. Painfully thin and desperately unhappy, and still unable to see her beauty. My only joy was my girls who kept me sane. As I looked in the mirror this morning and noticed the
wrinkles and the tiredness reflected back at me I smiled. I've earned
every wrinkle that is there, by worrying about my children, and laughing
with the joy of in my life. When I looked in the mirror this morning I gasped in wonder at how beautiful young vibrant women see themselves as so much less than they are. I know today my beauty comes from the happiness I have inside me. I've been told that I draw people to me because I smile. I wish at 16 and 24 I could have felt the joy of being me. I wish I could have seen my worth and not felt inadequate. Part of my happiness today is knowing that my daughters now 19 and 22 know how beautiful they are, inside and out. They were raised to know their worth comes from who they are not how they look. It's time for us to ensure all our young women grow realising it's not the colour or style of your hair, your age or the beauty products you use, it's what's inside that makes you glow and makes you are truly beautiful. |
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