Feeling Beautiful

FEELING BEAUTIFUL 

is more important 

than being beautiful. 

It's not how you see me, 

it's how I feel. 

It's not about good hair days 

and flawless makeup. 

It's not about the perfect weight 

and skinny jeans. 

Feeling beautiful 

goes deeper than that. 

It's believing in myself. 

It's facing my fears, 

and being brave. 

It's working up a sweat, 

and feeling stronger every day. 

It's living my life wholeheartedly. 

It's being loved, and giving love.

I may not always LOOK beautiful, 

but at this time in my life, 

I finally feel beautiful. 

Even better.

This is the song my last class of fifth graders
sang to me on the phone, and whenever
I visited them at the middle school.
Thank you for making me feel beautiful.

P.S. This started out as a silly Facebook challenge. If someone challenges you to find five pictures that make you feel beautiful, even if you don't do the challenge, I hope you'll think about what it is that makes you feel that way. 

When I finally took on this little project (it took longer than I thought it would), I was surprised at the pictures I chose. They weren't the ones with perfect hair and makeup, or when I was at my goal weight. They were the ones when I was relaxed, working out, at the beach, with my kids, using my camera. The times I feel the most beautiful are when I am happy. So if it makes you feel more comfortable to find pictures of yourself when you feel HAPPY, instead of BEAUTIFUL, use those. My guess is your happy pictures are your most beautiful ones.