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A talented mom wrote me recently to say that she’s been a mother for 15 years, but she’s still “no June Cleaver.” This led me to an “ah-hah” moment, with this realization:
Each and every one of us is better than any TV mom, June Cleaver or otherwise.
“Why?”, you might ask.
Because we are real parents nurturing real families the best we can with the resources we have each and every day! We have no scripts, no TV kids (certainly no TV husbands!), no wardrobe or makeup artists, yet we’re making it work, winging it LIVE!
In my book, authentic is best. And this applies to our bodies as well as our souls. From a cosmetic perspective, implants may give the illusion of a more generously endowed figure, but they have nothing to do with the ability of a woman to nourish and care for her family. Lip injections add temporary fullness, but they don’t do anything to enhance our ability to kiss our children. Botox may erase lines for a time, but it can also give a stiff, unnatural appearance to an otherwise softly loving countenance.
Am I against cosmetic procedures?
No, I think they can be tremendously helpful in certain circumstances.
Do I think they’re overused?
Yes.
I believe we should honor our authentic selves, including our minds, bodies and spirits, and allow our innate beauty to shine through. Trying to be like someone else may give us a start in the right direction when we’re working to co-create a better life, but at some point, we have to trust ourselves from the inside out and take a leap of faith.
When you catch yourself thinking you should be more like another person, ask yourself this question: “What would that give me?” And then listen and feel for the answer.
If you come up with an answer that seems fairly superficial, ask the same question again: “What would that give me?”
If you follow the trail, you will eventually come up with an answer like “peace,” “love,” ” abundance,” ” a more harmonious life,” ” happiness,” etc.
In which case, it is time to honor your heart’s desire. You can know that, like a seed preparing to sprout toward the sun, you are ready to begin manifesting that which you seek from the inside out. You, with all your perceived flaws, are beautiful and good enough just as you are. And you, not some social icon, are the special person your family needs!
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