beauty

Dear daughter,

Today I saw a video that made me cry. This video, which is part of an advertising campaign for Dove, was posted just three days ago, and it already has over 4.7 million views.

The concept is simple: women were asked to describe the way they look. The results were powerful...and sadly, not surprising.



You see, my innocent one, sometime...and it will be much too soon...someone will tell you that you are not beautiful enough. This someone will be a friend, a stranger or, much more likely, a nameless girl you see in a magazine. You will begin to notice that you don't have the shiny hair that she has, or the cute perfect nose, or the bouncy breasts that all the boys are talking about. You'll feel too tall, too thin, too round, too blotchy, too limp, too awkward, too plain, too marked. This breaks my heart.

Today I conducted my own experiment. I sat down with you and asked you to describe yourself. Your adorable five year old language and giggles warmed my heart as I drew your picture. I asked you what you thought about your eyes. You told me that they are blue. I asked what you liked about your eyes. You told me that they can "see good". I asked about your hair. You told me it was long, blondish and brownish and that you can do ponytails, braids and wear a toy seahorse in it. You said your bangs are "sort of awesome, but seriously they get long all the time". You said your nose is awesome and it's for smelling, and that you like your ears because they help you hear. I asked you what your favourite part of your face was and you answered your eyes because you like seeing, your nose because you like smelling, your ears because you like hearing and your mouth because you like saying ridiculous.

You were laughing the whole time and enjoying the conversation. You laughed at my drawing and drew your nose bigger so it showed your nostrils. You loved talking about your body and you focused on purpose of being rather than perversion of view.

You are where I am working so hard to be. You see no fault, no judgement - only purpose. I want to hold you, keep you at this understanding forever. Because, you my dear daughter, are reflecting radiating your true self. And nothing can be more beautiful.

I love you and all that you are.

Mommy.

thankful

Today I got to visit my best friend.

She is only in town for a few days and it meant the world to me to see her now. I find life's timing so intuitive...the ebbs of bad days offset by a trickle of good. And my dear friend is so good for me.

We met 16 years ago, our friendship formed through conversations in noisy college hallways and over build-your-own sandwiches in the cafeteria. Our adventures included tiaras, boy bands, Maylong weekend camping and chugs of straight rye before heading out on the town. She stood by me on my wedding day and stood by me when my world was crumbling down.

Our friendship now spans a nine hour time difference from my side of the world to hers. But today - today, I got to see her smile, touch her hand and throw my head back and laugh with her. I love that our friendship is real and it doesn't matter when or where we meet - even if it's waiting in line for medical appointments. She is my lifeline and her very self infuses me with grace, love and acceptance.

We don't waste time with idle matters such as the weather or what we are wearing. We dive fast, deep and intentional into the heart matters. The stuff we are told not to talk about when someone asks how you are doing. Truth is a constant in this friendship, it is what tethers us together, no matter the time or distance.

I am thankful for my soul sister and for the gift that she is.