Percival the Plain Little Caterpillar

I have this book that I love called "Percival the Plain Little Caterpillar". The story is about Percival noticing the different colors that are around him & on different creatures. He notices the green on a frog, the red on ladybugs, the blue on the dragonfly, the pink of the lizards tongue, the purple spots on the lizards back, the yellow on the bumblebee, and he realizes how plain he is & wishes he were those beautiful colors. Then he falls asleep in his cocoon & dreams about all of the different colors he sees. When he wakes up, he is a beautiful butterfly!!!
This story is so much like we are. Many times we find ourselves feeling plain compared to the model on TV or in the magazines, or even our best friend. But as we experience life & go through the growth process, we too begin to see the beauty that is within us all. It may take months or even years for us to fully grasp that beauty, but if we look hard enough & learn from the challenges that are given to us, we will find it.

Jamie Lee Curtis has Nothing To Hide

I heard about this story a while ago & thought it was interesting so I decide I would post it. This article was written August 27, 2002 in the San Fransisco Chronicle. Jamie Lee Curtis has written several children's books on self esteem & says that it boosts her own self esteem.

JAMIE LEE CURTIS called more magazine a few months ago. She had an idea for a story and photo shoot. The result is in the issue that hits newsstands today. The actress is photographed in her underwear as she looks in the privacy of her own bedroom, without benefit of stylists, makeup or flattering camera angles.
Curtis, famously fit in movies such as "Perfect" and "True Lies," looks like what she is: a 43-year-old mother of two. Squishy in the middle. Chunky in the thighs. Flabby in the back. Thick at the knees and ankles.
On the next page of the magazine is another photograph. It's Glam Jamie, as Curtis calls her gussied-up self. She's gorgeous in a sleek black dress -- carefully chosen to elongate and slim her torso -- and sling-back heels with ankle ties. The magazine reveals, at Curtis's request, that the transformation took 13 people and three hours.
Obviously, it is no great revelation that movie and television stars hide their physical flaws from the public, that the perfection we see on film is a fantasy created through lighting, makeup, clever camera angles and gauzy lenses.
Yet Curtis's true-life photograph has created the loudest press buzz since the magazine began publishing four years ago. The story has been picked up everywhere from Liz Smith's gossip column and the "Today" show to MSNBC's "Nachman," CNN Headline News, the London Daily Telegraph and USA Today.
Why?
Because in 2002, more than three decades into the women's movement, it is still a radical act for a woman to accept her body as it is.
"We knew the article was important," said Susan Crandall, editor-in-chief of the magazine, targeted to women in their 40s and 50s. "But we didn't know how huge it would be. Even a 23-year-old assistant at the 'Today' show, after we were on last week, said that the article made her feel so much better about her body."
'Today' interviewer Campbell Brown seemed aghast at Curtis' boldness, as if being photographed as she really looks is more shocking than being photographed topless (as Curtis was in "Trading Places").
"There is no way I would sit down for a magazine photo shoot with no makeup,
no control tops, no wonder bra," Brown said to the actress. "Were you scared at all?"
"What I'm scared of is that that's what women have become accustomed to needing to feel good about themselves," Curtis replied. "And show business and media and magazines don't help by promoting these images of women that are completely airbrushed, that are completely altered, to then give you, the unsuspecting buyer, this fake sense of that that's what people are supposed to look like."
Curtis has just written her fifth children's book, "I'm Gonna Like Me: Letting Off a Little Self-Esteem," which is what prompted the idea for the photo.
"I felt that if I'm going to try to promote something where I'm trying to explain self-esteem to children, I needed to live it," she said on the "Today'' show. "And for me to live it means I need to be the person I look at every morning when I wake up and stand in the mirror, you know, kind of as God intended me to look."
The impossible ideal of the perfect body -- what we ought to look like -- has been etched in our brains since our first Barbie. One photo won't change that. But it is a reminder of where the revolution fell short. As we were getting the world to accept us for who we are, we never figured out how to accept ourselves.

This article appeared on page A - 21 of the San Francisco Chronicle
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The Beauty Within Workshop

Just a heads up! I am organizing a workshop that will be held in October. I haven't gotten the date or place confirmed yet but it will be held in Kaysville somewhere. This is going to be such a fun workshop filled with everything from health & nutrition tips to hair & makeup tips. We will also be holding a "Real Beauty" workshop just for girls & their moms. We will be ending the workshop with a fashion show & a keynote speaker. I will be adding more information as soon as I can but keep checking back!

The Real You

I have been reading out of a book called, "Live, Love, & Learn". It is from the Time Out for Women conferences that Deseret Book sponsors. I came across a story by Hilary Weeks titled "The Real You" & wanted to share a thought from it.

She says: "There are a lot of things like smiling that I want to improve about myself. I imagine we all feel that way. I have a little philosophy about becoming and being the "real you" or in other words, the person you want and know you can be.
To some extent we know our strengths and weaknesses. Often we notice someone else's strength and wish we were more that way...My philosophy is the good quality we notice in someone else is a quality we actually already possess but have not yet developed. It is in us, we just need to watch and learn from another's example. The fact we notice the strength in someone else is our inner spirit's desire to develop that quality.
....Who is the real you? Do you want to smile more? Do you want to be organized? Do you want to have a home in which everyone knows they are welcome? Do you want to make the world's best cheese ball?
It is pretty easy to figure out. Just think of someone's example that you admire. Watch as they use that quality. You could even ask them how they do it--get a little one-on-one advice!!
It is a pattern with which we are already familiar. We know how to look to the Savior for our ultimate example. And along the road of life, His qualities can be found in those around us. Following those examples can help us become our very best. Our weaknesses truly can become our strengths and our strengths can be a blessing to others. It is part of the cycle of becoming the "real you".
...Today & everyday I want to be SOMEBODY."

It seems that everyday we encounter someone who we think does something better than we do & I loved what Hilary said about watching their example & learning from them. It is how our children learn the things they do, by example. In her story she used an example of a friend who smiled all the time. She smiles at the person giving the talk in sacrament meeting, she smiles at the family giving the musical number. Hilary wanted to be more like that so she started smiling while she was doing the dishes or even sweeping the floor. She said that at first it didn't feel very natural but the more she does it, the more natural it feels.

It is the same with us. When we try something new for the first time, it may not seem natural but the more we practice it, the better we get at it & the more comfortable it will be. I am trying to follow the example of the people I want to be like more & be more comfortable at what I want to do & become "the real me".

What does it mean to walk in Beauty?

I was going through a folder that I found & realized it was stuff from high school. In it I found this page titled "What does it mean to walk in Beauty?" I am going to share this with you & I am keeping it as it was written. So remember this was written when I was 16 or 17 so it isn't grammatically perfect.

"To walk in beauty means to be beautiful in your thoughts, words and actions. You don't have to be beautiful to walk in beauty. It just means that you have a beautiful spirit & personality. To really notice that someone is walking in beauty you have to really look inside that person and dig deep into their soul. To walk in beauty is to be self confident. To be clean in all you do. When I think of walking in beauty, I think of a green meadow with trees in full bloom waiting to be picked & given to someone. I think of a spring afternoon warm & bright & full of color. I also think of a cool summer dusk when the sun is beginning to set. To me, that is walking in beauty. When your heart is filled with the wonderful things of nature. It is also love for all thing great & small. Love is the most beautiful gift one could ever walk in."

Like I said, grammatically, it is not perfect & you can see how juvenile it is. But I wanted to share it anyway because this obviously is something I have thought about before in my life, even if it was fifteen plus years ago. I still believe that walking in beauty comes from your thoughts, words & actions. Its not just what is on the outside but more what is on the inside that really matters! Everything in this blog has to do with feeling beautiful from the inside, out. I hope that my thoughts & words can help inspire you to be confident in whatever it is you want to do. No matter your age or stage in life, you can accomplish your dreams if you just have the desire & willpower to do it.

How To Be A Winner

I found this in a magazine once so I don't know who wrote it or what magazine it came out of. I think it was Better Homes & Gardens but don't remember. I have always kept a copy because I loved it.

A Winner: A Loser:
..Makes Time ..Wastes time
..says "Let's find out" ..says "Nobody knows"
..empowers ..controls
..says "If it is to be it is up to me" ..says "I can't help it"
..is not afraid of losing ..is afraid of winning
..wants to ..has to
..is part of the solution ..is part of the problem
..does it ..talks about it
..makes commitments ..makes promises
..works harder than a loser ..is always too busy
..learns from others ..resents others
..says "I'll plan to do that" ..says "I'll try to do that"
..says "I'm good but not as good as I could be" ..says "I'm not as bad as a lot of
other people
..listens ..waits 'til it's his turn to talk
..catches people doing things right ..catches people doing things wrong
..says "I was wrong" ..says "It's not my fault"
..says "There ought to be a better way" ..says "That's the way it's always been"
..see opportunities ..sees problems
..celebrates others ..complains about others
..feels responsible for mor that just her job ..says "I only work here"
..translates dreams into reality ..translates reality into dreams
..expects success ..expects failure

Even though some of the things on the "loser" side (like waiting until it's your turn to talk) does not necessarily make anyone a "loser" & I hate using that term because it is so negative. So let's change the wording to "positive attitude" versus "negative attitude". That's really what it all boils down to anyway. It's not about winning or losing, it's all about the attitude you take with you along the ride.

Ironic

I have found it a little ironic that since I have started researching about self esteem, I have found myself struggling with my own self esteem. I read my friends blogs & the things they are doing in their lives, the way they word stuff & the articles that are written, & I find myself wishing that I could do that better. Wondering what my strengths are & how I can do better. How I can be a better writer or better mom or better blogger. :) When we start using comparisons we tread on dangerous paths. Paths that could lead to self destruction. However, sometimes we need a check up. Sometimes we get so carried away in what we are doing for ourselves that we need those comparisons to humble ourselves & look for the beauty within ourselves. To review our weaknesses & try to turn those weaknesses into strengths. One of my favorite scriptures is Ether 12:27 "And if men come unto me, I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all mn that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." I know that when I take the time to check up on my weaknesses, it helps. But I know that I have a long way to go before my weaknesses will become my strengths.

The Man in the Glass

When you get what you want in your struggle for self

And the world makes you king for a day,

Just go to the mirror and look at yourself

And see what that man has to say.

For it isn’t your father or mother or wife

Whose judgment upon you must pass.

The fellow whose verdict counts most in you life

Is the one staring back from the glass.

You may be like Jack Horner and chisel a plum

And think you’re a wonderful guy.

But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum

If you can’t look him straight in the eye.

He’s the fellow to please-never mind all the rest,

For he’s with you clear to the end.

And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test

If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years

And get pats on the back as you pass.

But your final reward will be heartache and tears

If you’ve cheated the man in the glass.

Annonymous

Audrey Hepburn

One of my favorite actresses was Audrey Hepburn. I think everyone can appreciate her classic style & beauty. She has this quote that I love. I think that one of the best ways to boost your own self esteem is to help boost someone else's & this is what she says about finding beauty within yourself:

"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness...
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people...
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry...
For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day...
For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone...People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others."

This is so true. I find that when I truly forget myself & serve others, not only do I feel better about myself, but I am helping others feel better about themselves as well. May we all learn to live this "motto".