My life is to make everything around me beautiful.

Friday, November 20, 2009

The Sum of All My Parts

First off, a little eye candy because from this point on it sure isn't "eye candy" so be forewarned, chicks!! *Wink* In fact, it could be just downright scary for some of ya! Just something that hangs in my office that I made a few years ago. I tried selling it but got no takers on it, so does that say something about my "selling" skills because we all know that being the highest paid woman in a very top Fortune 500 company my "working" skills were top notch. Now I'm a simple housewife living the retired life out in Idaho...one blog at a time, slouching around in pants and t-shirts instead of designer dresses and suits and not coiffing th' hair on a daily basis. *Happily!*...
~*~

I've been wanting to do this post ever since some girls in our church ward had their pictures done for their senior year. Plus I've seen this talked about much on the blogs and certainly in society today with the "Magazine Mentality" of what beauty is.

A friend I have is a photographer. She's as enamored of it as I am, but she's taken it up a couple of levels and is trying to make money at it. She's very good but beats herself to death over what isn't just perfect. Right, S***y?! She has taken some senior pictures of some young women, and I've seen them on her blog. She has done an amazing job but I had to laugh at a couple of the antics of the girls. The question asked of Stacy by some of the girls is "does it make me look fat?" What??? They look "natural." They're as thin as rails as it is. I'd be asking "does it make me look like someone a guy would like for the mother of his children?" These girls have a LOT to learn.

Many years ago I wasn't happy with lots of things about my body: very slender ankles, nose had a bump in it, arms were too long, wished I was taller than my 5' 4 3/4", smaller chest...yes, I know, but if you've got it, you don't want it! We're never happy with our bodies initially.

One day it hit me though: I am what I am. I like myself. When did I start liking the way I looked? I can't remember a specific point but just one day I realized I was "OKAY" and from that point on I liked how I looked. Oh, we can all lose a little weight at some points in our lives but I never worried about it. I truly didn't have a problem with the way I looked.

So I've composed this blog to put it all into perspective. None of those girls will ever see this blog and I'm not mentioning my friend's blog so these girls will never be embarrassed.

These are my eyes. Oh, they're not gloriously exquisite like some of the Hollywood stars or magazine models but they are my eyes and they've never had plastic surgery. Let's call them "natural." Okay, so I use mascara and in this photo it looks a bit messy, but I promised myself I'd post whatever I came up with today. AND I cannot for the life of me get false eyelashes on them! I've tried but I waste money every few years trying again. The color of them is green. And the left one droops slightly, which truly wasn't noticed by me until I reached my senior year in high school. I just never noticed it! That's gray in the eyebrow also. If you look closely enough you'll see the wrinkles and the epicanthic fold is what it should be for a woman of my age–almost 70 years of age. Yikes! Hmmmmm....maybe even better. ;-) And my eyebrows are about half gray. In fact, that could be them hanging in my eyes! *Smirk*


My nose has a "bump" on the top of it. I can't show you any better than this but I tried. Have I ever wished it was perfect? Sure I have, but not enough concerned to get under th' knife, chicks! Besides, I had it when I married Love Bunny and I'm guessing he's gotten used to it by now and still loves me anyway. You will notice the little peach fuzz on my nose also. Very fine peach fuzz but it's there. Plus you can see the wrinkles on my inner eye better on this one.

My mouth is extremely small, although some would dispute this fact. ;-) They are by no means exquisite or full or plump lips and you can see my lines around them.

My hair. No, it's not frosted; it's gray...commingled with the ash brown. Although, my daughter and granddaughter "enhance" the color of their hair, I love gray hair. I don't want to spend the time nor the money to keep it colored and no matter what the beauticians say they have never, ever been able to match the color of my hair. I get a lot of compliments on it and always have even though I cannot imagine or understand why. Truly, I can't. And I do NOT fuss with the hairdresser except for cuts and perms. I froufrou my own hair, not some other person.

Nothing is perfect on this face...NOTHING. But the final result is one with which I can live. It's not beautiful or lovely (LB might just might disagree but I'm a realist). Also you don't see the eyebrow hairs I have to pluck under my brows. *Sigh*..... I hate plucking those things. A face only a mother or Love Bunny could love, but that's enough for me!

Finally, just let me say to you young women, teenagers, moms and mature women, seek not for outer beauty, seek for your inner beauty and strength. You're going to need it in the road ahead. Be happy with how you look and don't lust after some model in a magazine whose photo has been PhotoShopped out of reality. Be happy and grateful for what you have. Truly, you are all beautiful.
~*~


27 comments:

  1. You know, you DO look lovely! So what if you have a few wrinkles here and there, and the bump. Your hubby loves you, your children love you, you are one lucky lady!! I too am not always content with the way I look, but then I just look at somebody else and think: Ah girl you ain't too bad looking" lol. I am 6 feet (maybe a little over) skinny all the way from top to bottom, wear glasses, and have almost nothing "up there". My feet are large. But I love my hair, lol. It is wavy, curly and shoulder length. I do color it otherwise it wopuld be gray too.

    I have lerarned to "like myself" a little lately.

    So chin up girl you are always beautiful to the One who matters!!

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  2. Connie you look beautiful,Just the way you are.I wouldn't change a thing at all!Hugs,Jen

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  3. Miss Connie...YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!! I hope I look half as pretty when I get to be your age!

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  4. Connieness! Darlin', you are a beautiul woman - inside and out! You have beautiful eyes - I love the green color. You don't see many green eyes very often. And your hair! Connie you have lovely hair - so thick and it looks like you have natural body in it. Is that a perm? My tiny hair is so straight it's awful!
    You're right there are so many things we don't like about our bodies. I've got an entire list! But I am who God made me to be and I'm okay with that! :)
    This was a great post. You are a lovely lady, my sweet friend.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia :)

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  5. What a great post and an important reminder! Someone on another blog yesterday was turning 39 and asked if it was time to stop getting excited about birthdays. I will be 61 in January and I celebrate every day. I'm heavier, wrinklier and slower than I was at 39 but I love my life and thank God! my husband does too. I think you are lovely and if I had nice gray hair like you do (and not usgly patches of it) I would let mine grow out too! Thank you for this reminder to all of us!

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  6. Oh sweetie...
    This is the BEST post you have ever written. I love, love, love it.

    You are so beautiful. This is what I have been trying to teach to my grand daughters, they are so skinny and tiny and are always worrying about being fat. To love themselves for who they are. Not to worry about what God gave did or did not give us.

    I have learned to work with what I have and love being me. Now I have to tell you though, I have to go in every 5 weeks to cover up my grey. It is that dirty looking grey, battleship grey. I have to cover it up. It totally washes me out. I will never go grey. Ever!!!

    You on the other hand look Fabulous darling, just Fab.

    Thanks for sharing this sweet piece. I so love it. Stop by and say hi. I love it when you do. Have a great Friday. Country hugs...Sherry

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  7. Connie, this is a wonderful post! Thank you, thank you. It took me a long time to come to terms with how I looked - and there was less pressure from the media in those days. I have a bump on my nose, courtesy of my Grandfather and I'm proud of it. I have brown eyes and uncolored hair. Like you, I didn't want to start coloring it - didn't want the expense or the hassle. I don't have a lot of obvious wrinkles but I do have a deep frown line between my brows. The jowl line is sagging, much to my chagrin.

    It is interesting because I find I have a bit more trouble with the aging process than I would have thought. I look in a store window at my reflection and think, "Who is that?" I look more and more like my mother. So I work on coming to terms with that and getting rid of the voice in my head that says "You're past your prime." Why? Why can't my prime be now?

    I so wish that young girls didn't feel so much pressure. We all know those photos have been retouched within an inch of their lives and they are not a true measure of beauty. It comes from within. Truly.

    And by the way, I will never have plastic surgery. I can think of too many things I'd rather spend the money on!

    I think you are beautiful, Connie.

    xoxo
    Claudia

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  8. And, may I add you are beautiful too. You have such pretty eyes. Hope you have a great Friday, T

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  9. What a great post! You still have a wonderful complexion, beautiful eyes, no wrinkles above your lip, etc...but then, what else would I expect from Doris Day? : )
    My Sara did a whole report in school last year about PhotoShop in the media. It was shocking. I think it did wonders for her self-esteem. : )

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  10. I'm truly grateful for the flaws I have. There... I said it.

    Oh, great post Chick. Nuff-said.

    ~Stacey

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  11. You are beautiful, Connie! And you look 30!

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  12. Dang Connie, you are the youngest looking 70 year old I have ever seen..you have the most beautiful skin and no wrinkles..what is your secret...you have great hair too...:) have a fab weekend..:)

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  13. Hi Connie..
    chickie buns! You look fabulous. You gave us a lovely look at yourself. I know what you mean. Beauty truly is only skin deep and the inner beauty of a person far exceeds the other.
    On that note....my post talks about my diet plan. Now in my case I just feel better myself in more ways than one when I am a lighter weight that I grew to be. To get there I didn't eat right and I've corrected that. To get there I didn't exercise I feel better when I do. To get there I have more energy and I just feel better and thats why I am happy when I can do this for myself.

    Loved your post and your pictures.
    Have a beautiful day
    Judi

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  14. Connie you are beautiful inside and out and that is what matters. I give you credit for taking those close up pictures! You look incredible and your eyes are beautiful. Don't quite know that I'd want pictures that close up of me, but hey, I am what I am. Thank you for a great post!!!

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  15. Sweet Connie, if I posted a closeup of myself, then you would have something to be afraid of. I have aged early (60) due to my health and I could pass for your mother. But like you, it really doesn't matter, because my inner beauty is what I see every day. I don't need a face lift to make me feel cute or pretty or whatever. I just love your new photo. Big hugs, Pat

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  16. You are truly beautiful inside and out, Connie. This is one of the most wonderful posts I've ever read. Your words of wisdom are priceless. I truly enjoy getting older. I am more comfortable with myself than ever before in my life. I'm only in my early 40's and have never been a big sun worshipper so my skin is still pretty good. I've seen so many people around my age that were so upset with turning forty. There comes a point where you have to search inside for happiness and not expect to receive it based on what is on your outside. Thanks so much for sharing this with us. Your eyes are truly the mirror to your soul. :)

    ~ Wendy
    http://Crickleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

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  17. Connie you are gorgeous inside and out! You have such pretty clear green eyes too. ~Wow!

    Love ya sweet lady, ~Melissa :)

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  18. Hi Pretty Connie!
    Wow I would never get a camera that close to my face.
    I'm very happy with my age and the way I look at it, but I certainly don't look as young as you. I have a lot more wrinkles because I worked in the sun without protection. Bad, bad sun. I'm always warning younger women to take care in the sun.
    I have a friend who has had more facelifts than I can now count. She is starting to look a lot like an alien being. I'll keep my wrinkles and look like I am from the planet Earth, thank you very much.
    This is such a great post Connie! Your pictures are great, beautiful Connie.
    Hugs,
    June

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  19. I'm 71 and yes I do have wrinkles and groves where I shouldn't have them BUT I think I earned everyone of them, Thank you. Older women look great when they keep there since of humor, wear a smile and have there shoulders back and walk up straight. I'm to busy to worry about all the changes taking place in my body. I'm just glad the Lord is keeping me around.

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  20. Well..I think you look wonderful!! No...I am not just saying that ...although I wouldn't tell you if you didn't. :)
    I REALLY do think you look great. I now have wrinkles...and as of late...a horrible cut down my middle. All these years of having children and no stretch marks..and now this! LOL
    Enjoy...and look around you at others your age! YIKES!
    Who cares. Like you I am fairly happy with me. (Lordy I do need to lose some weight though!) :)

    Connie...we are ALL beautiful! ALL of us. Young, old, skinny, fatter, gray, colored hair, black or white skin and in between!

    Love and hugs,
    Mona

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  21. Great post! Oh if we could just be happy with who we are and what we look like! I used to feel so inferior because I was shy, now I like being an introvert. It's OKAY!
    I tell my 20 year old son that all the time because he's just like me!
    Now if I could only be 20 again and know what I do now at 56!!! LOL
    Thanks for such a great post!

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  22. Love this post Connie, the pics of you are beautiful! How in the world did you take those closeup pics of yourself! I'm honored to know this humorus, talented, loving woman.

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  23. Hi, Connie,
    I think you look very pretty! I would be afraid to get the camera that close to my face. However, I am satisfied with the way I look. I love my silver gray hair, and I am content with my looks. I think I got more content the older I got. I am very concerned about our young people and the standard they feel they have to live up to in order to be considered pretty or handsome. Thank you for this post today! Have a terrific weekend! Vicki

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  24. Great post, Connie, and I think you are beautiful. I have always felt that what is on the inside of a person far exceeds what is on the outside. I'm happy in my own skin, though I wish my face were fuller! :-)

    XO,

    Sheila

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  25. Sweet Connie........

    First of all........you're nearly SEVENTY??? NO WAY! And, I think you're beautiful.....what fabulous eyes....and your skin is so flawless....You're doing GREAT....and I can see why you love you! Me too.. :-)

    Hugs,
    Spencer

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  26. You are one pretty lady, sister!! I don't believe you are almost 70, so QUIT sayin' it!! Gotta show these pics to your "mum" tomorrow! She already thinks you are a doll and this will just prove it! And you are right, beauty comes from the inside first, and you've got the entire package!!

    Big TX Hugs,
    Stephanie
    Angelic Accents

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Comments are so nice and I thank all of you that leave one for me.