Every once in awhile I have a few moments when I remember a smell, a feeling… something that brings me back to youth. At times it’s so strong that I spend even more time searching for a photograph of my grandparents, my parents ~ a point of validation and a more vivid recollection of what is flighty in my mind.
It’s reflection week. I remember how “NOT” confident I was when I was in my teens and early 20s. I was modeling at the time, and was surrounded by people that I knew looked better than me, had a smaller waistline, and was so concerned with people liking me for how I looked. I had to really push myself to think of anything that I really liked about myself. Now creeping into my mid-40s… if there was one thing I could go back and do I would just smack my young self up the side of my head. So, here is my taking a deep breath… please know that these hairstyles and clothes were from the late 80’s and I take no responsibility for poofy hair or bangs. But, I least now I can look back and see I wasn’t fat, I wasn’t ugly – as I did think so at the time. Silly children… don’t let a day go by that you don’t tell your children that they are beautiful and help them build confidence in who they are regardless of what they look like. If I can give one thing to my children – I want to give them confidence in who they are as a person. There is nothing to compare yourself against, every person has something they can be proud of.
So here you go…. and I’m totally fine if you smile, laugh… because it cracks me up too. 😉
Jeanine Thurston 