Balanced Pretty

I recently read a celebrity being interviewed who shared she felt most beautiful when she is with her family. While I appreciated the sentiment, a sense of guilt crept over me knowing that I didn’t feel the same way.

Don’t get me wrong, I feel most validated and fulfilled when I’m serving my family, but when it comes to feeling beautiful, I’m a little more superficial. You see I’ve spent my life chasing pretty.

With a license in cosmetology and a degree in fashion, when it comes to appearances I’ve left no sparkly stone unturned. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t experimenting with make up or coordinating outfits for others or myself.

I’m not ashamed of my love for making things and people look and feel beautiful. When I’ve had a sleepless night, a bright lipstick the next morning helps me to fake awake and feel a little better.

There is a power behind choosing the way I present myself to the world and I believe it is part of my divine nature as a woman to desire femininity and even beauty. Why then do I feel empty after binge reading fashion magazines?

The answer lies in balancing the two. I’ve always loved the message Sister Susan W. Tanner’s mother gave to her, “You must do everything you can to make your appearance pleasing, but the minute you walk out the door, forget yourself and start concentrating on others.”

When I take the time to present my best self to world, I look my best. When I am doing God’s work, I feel my best. A combination of the two produces an unparalleled, balanced pretty.