Saturday, August 22, 2009

Beauty's Only Skin Deep...

Keep It Simple

Beauty is not caused. It is.--- Emily Dickinson

Probably, there have been many times when we thought we weren’t beautiful. We thought we were ugly. We thought we were bad people. This is a natural part of addiction. Our program tells us we’re good, we’re beautiful. Do we believe this? Do we accept this part of the program?

Beauty is an attitude, just as self-hate is an attitude. We need to keep the attitude that we’re beautiful. We owe it to ourselves and to those around us. And, yes, it’s true that you must love yourself before you can love others. Remember, ours is a selfish program. We have to love and see ourselves as beautiful, before we can give it to others.

Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, help me claim my beauty. Help me to see that, sometimes, I have to be selfish to grow.
Action for the Day: Today, I’ll work at falling in love with myself.



ME?

Lately, whenever I see a mirror, I run by quickly, hoping to avoid my refection like the plague. This morning, however, I was short a few strides and caught a glimpse.

"Uh, mirror, mirror, on the wall, what the hell happened to me?"

It's not that I haven't noticed my clothes are tight -- it's like stuffing 10 pounds of potatoes in a 5 pound bag. I guess by avoiding that mirror, I could maintain the illusion that I don't look that badly.


Sadly, that prolonged backward glance in my full length bedroom mirror did confirm my once toned body was on a cruise to nowhere. And my once so full of life personality, bubbling with nauseating enthusiasm and fake confidence, was lost at sea.

One of my readers commented when you fix the inside, the outside will come. I have come to believe that is so very true. Apparently, the comments left on my blog, reading the blogs and conversing with others as had a positive effect on me.

Today, I plan to do something about it.

Today, I'm not going to just whine about change; I'm going to try to change.
Today, I will begin to cleanse my body and start a new healthy regiment.
Today, I will begin my weight loss project and strengthen my body.
Today, I will continue to work on my insides by writing, reading and reaching out to others.

Today, I will try and embrace me for me.

Sue

Baby steps first -- I must keep in mind that it's progress not perfection.

What are your feelings on beauty and change?

17 comments:

Her Big Sad said...

You can do it!!!!

Thank you for posting this - I needed the reminder!

Swatantra said...

You can do if you wish to do... you can attract the positive in your life... If you ask for it..

Take care and God Bless you!!

Tall Kay said...

In early sobriety, I tried to spend equal times on the inside and the outside. If it took me an hour to fuss with my hair, makeup, etc., then I had to spend an hour working on the inside. Results were, I ended up spending less time on the outside (2 hours a day is ALOT), but I looked and felt better than I had in years.

That progress, not perfection is such a good thing to remember. I just love the way you write! Very good thoughts for today!

Lou said...

You sound so enthusiastic to get started on your plan. And writing down and keeping track of your goals is a great way to do it!

Trée said...

I had buck teeth, until my mid-thirties when I had four teeth pulled and wore braces for three and a half years. My teeth are nice and straight now. But I had learned before, not to smile and I've found learning to do so, has been a very difficult thing. The images in my mind remain stronger than the images in the mirror. Smiling is still an effort and I envy those who can smile often and effortlessly.

Cloudia said...

Progress is more like the release that delights us at the last day of school (really)
than it is akin to bucking down to a new semester.

Stop. Breath.
"It" is there all along!
You are on a wonderful path, and we all enjoy seeing you scamper ther heights.

Aloha-
Comfort Spiral

Dulçe ♥ said...

Hi Sue
I'm back!
Well your post is really interesting indeed.
My answer to your question is in my blog if you look at my oldest post and read the one titled 'SOUL'
I believe we are really similar dear!
Tahnk for your comment on my 55!

Linda said...

Susan,
Too funny how we were both thinking alike today. God must be trying to tell us something, ya think?

He did indeed create us to be lovable and to love others as we love ourselves.
I did have another post but my computer spit it back at me. lol
Hugs and Love!

Dulçe ♥ said...

Thank you again.
But Did you read the post I told you (SOUL)? I was wondering...

Lynn said...

It's good that you write about your recovery, Susan. Self-awareness is half the battle. Lovely background music.

Dulçe ♥ said...

Thank you for being so thankful and nice to me. YOU ARE a perfect walking soul as well-I bet you are.
By the way you've just started > and alredy have 19 followers!!!
you'll get far!
(and I envy you!)
:)

The neverending battle of child's opiate addiction said...

Thanks for the post on my 55. I also love your writing and you already are an inspiratin to me so I thank you so much for that. You can do it!!

Maude Lynn said...

This sounds exactly like how I've been feeling lately. Let's do it!

Judith said...

I avoid getting my photo taken for the same reason. If I don't see what I look like, I don't worry about it. At least as long as my clothes still fit.

Anonymous said...

I struggle with the whole beauty complex. On one hand I don't give a rats twitch of the nose. On the other, I want to be the best me I can be. Lupus has a way of making me frumpy. I have put on weight due to the drugs and I must have the drugs to live the best life I can in spite of lupus.

I want to drop 25lbs. I have lost 7 lbs just walking my new malinois and putting her in traing. Maybe I need to amp it up more.

Best of luck to you.

linda may said...

Mirrors and pictures of self are very confronting. You have a curious compulsion to look but when you do you don't want to see what is there. I really hate sitting in front of the mirror at the hair dressers for that reason, I don't know where to look. Isn't it a pity that you can't see yourself as others see you? We would see something very different wouldn't we.
My father used to laugh and call me rough head, it has stuck to me for the rest of my life. If any Dads read this, let your daughters know that you believe they are lovely, it will make all the difference, especially when they reach their sensitive teenage years.
It is only the last couple of years of my life that I can sometimes feel positive about myself, you can too, and you are working in the right direction.
Remember "stuff what you think the world thinks of you. You are an individual with your own life, likes, dislikes etc etc, you go girl"

Syd said...

My thoughts are that the "beauty" is within. When I'm confident, happy, and at peace within myself, I think that is reflected in how I appear outwardly to others. I know several women who aren't physically stunning but who have charisma and are interesting to talk to. That goes a long way.