BEAUTIFUL YOU

YOU ARE PERFECTLY AND WONDERFULLY CREATED

I am guilty of it, are you? For years, I have looked in the mirror and picked out every perceived flaw, stretch mark, dimple, and wrinkle I could find.  Daily, I proved myself the ugly duck.  And although it's tough to admit (guys plug your ears), I was wrong.

When I was a young girl, I never thought twice about my looks.  I was just Rita Anderson, lover of dandelions and bumble bees, and good at sports and somersaults.  I loved helping out on our small farm (even shoveling the stalls), but most days, my pony, pigs, chickens, and dogs captured all of my attention.  As I got a little older, we moved into town and the farm was gone.  We still had dogs and some acreage, but helping out there included salting slugs, and pooper scooper duty, GROSS!

Then, sometime during my teen years, I started to look around and compare myself to the images I saw on the TV, and magazines (and the poster my father had on the wall in the games room).  Soon I began to feel less than pretty, and then after I had my children, I began to feel ugly.  The unrealistic comparisons I made between me and the altered images created many painful, stolen years.

A part of me to take with you 

If I could pass anything on to my 6 beautiful daughters, it would be, "you are the most immeasurable, beautiful treasure there is on this earth, and you are perfectly imperfect, and unique.  The things that you perceive as flaws are what make you one of the most stunning and magnificent women in this world.  Don't let a lie, sold by ruthless, greedy money grabbers, steal your joy, dictate your activities, or consume your time and mental energy. Engage and immerse yourself in the beauty of this world, often, and be sure to soak it all in.  Don't get caught up in the race, EAT, and don't allow the dark shadows to penetrate the truth of who you really are."