I recently (this last Tuesday) got semi-permanent makeup on my eyebrows. It's kind of like a tattoo, but it will only last 3-5 years.
But if I'm the effing swan, not the ugly duckling, shouldn't I be happy as I am and not NEED to change anything? Yes and no. I didn't NEED to change my eyebrows. I wanted to. Does it make me feel better about myself? Yes. Does it make me feel confident? Yes. Is there anything wrong with that? Nope. Not in this case. We all have things about us we'd like to change. I happen to have sparse, sad, straight little eyebrows that make my face look bald unless my trusty eyebrow pencil gives me a chance at expression. I had the power, the means, and the ability to change them. So I did. If I did my eyebrows in hopes that other people would find me more beautiful, or that men would be attracted to me, or because I was convinced that I was ugly without them...the procedure would have been all for naught. I would have pretty eyebrows, but I just would have found something else to fuel my self-loathing and insecurity. If I can't love me just the way I am, then no amount of changing the outside is going to heal the inside. Choose what you choose for you and not anyone else. I didn't get my eyebrows done to make other people like me, or even to make me like me. I got them done because I wanted to. It saves me a chunk of my morning I used to have to spend on making my lame brows even. I like me with or without them. Look at yourself today and consciously pay attention to you and your well being. Do you like yourself? Do you look in the mirror and instantly start picking apart everything "wrong" with you? Do you think things like "Well, when I finally __________ then I'll be pretty." or "If only I looked like ___________." Those things come more from what's going on inside you than what you actually look like outside (Trust me, << Test First Name >>, you're gorgeous inside and out - you just need to believe it!). When you look in the mirror and hear your inner voice thinking those nasty things...I want you to be bold and brave and do this exercise. Look yourself right in the eye and say "I am beautiful." I'm serious. Do it. Whatever version of that you need. "I am beautiful." "I am strong." "I am unique." "I am an effing swan - not an ugly duckling." You tell yourself lies all the time - how about today you tell the truth. Reply back to me if you're going to try this OR after you've done so. Let me know what you think of the process. Remember that you are beautiful. You are strong. You are unique. You are loved. Kelsey Strong Brow Swan
2 Comments
Terri
12/27/2017 11:10:36 pm
Thanks for saying this. I'm going through a similar-ish thing with my hair. I cut all my hair off because I wanted to redefine my beliefs around beauty. I've struggled with feeling beautiful for a long time, and I wanted to know that my beauty wasn't as fickle as just having long hair. That it was unshakable.
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Thank you, Terri. I’m glad I could capture it for you. I cut my hair off and totally remember that feeling. I also had multiple insults after doing so, which was a bummer and a real hit to the self esteem. Looking back, though, the comments came from women who were too afraid to do the same thing and were speaking their fear into comments on my hair (“but short hair is so butch.” “Men don’t like women with short hair. You won’t get any guys that way” - as if that’s my goal in life).
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AuthorMy thoughts and feelings on life--where The Swanitude began and how it continues. Archives
May 2017
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