I came around the side of the minivan to finish buckling one of my 3 year olds into his car seat before we headed off for school drop off. When I got to where I could see him, a huge smile erupted on my face. He was sitting with his arms behind his head and sunglasses on, looking all stylish. But what happened next was priceless. He looked at me and in a very confident and happy voice, exclaimed, “I’m so beautiful!”
I had to agree that he was and it just made my morning. But more than that, it gave me a lot to think about that day. That little boy has a head that’s too big for his body size, thin hair, and is far from the average height and weight for his age according to the doctors’ charts (he’s in the 2nd percentile for his age). Don’t get me wrong, he is cute as can be! But just like all of us, he has flaws. Even though those flaws are invisible to him, I don’t think his exclamation was so much referring to the outside appearance as it was to how he felt inside that day.
He was exuding confidence – he was happy, felt good, and put on his best (sunglasses). The funny thing was, I was feeling the same way that day. I was wearing my standard jeans and a t-shirt and quick hairdo. There wasn’t anything special about the way that I looked, but there was a spring in my step and I was being happy and having fun with the kids. I felt confident and yes, I felt beautiful. It really was an attitude thing.
I wish I could say that I felt that way every day. Even more, I wish that we all could feel that way every day, confident that who we are is enough and ready to take on the world and whatever challenges come our way with determination and grace – true beauty really comes from what’s going on inside of us, right? But I guess the first step is realizing it and being aware that every day CAN be that way if we choose to see the beauty and strength in ourselves.
You ARE beautiful! And I hope you’ll see that in yourself today . . . and every day.
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