On hands and relative beauty

[mollyringle]

I've decided I should view my face the way I view my hands. My hands have lots of little imperfections or features that could be beautified, but I don't care at all. If my face, however, exhibits a darkish speck an eighth of a millimeter in diameter, I will spend 15 minutes up against the mirror, prodding and squishing and generally besieging it with my (uncared for) fingernails. This makes no sense, considering it only makes my delicate facial skin worse.

My hands are small--I can reach maybe two notes outside an octave on a piano, at most; and cannot pick up a basketball one-handed. If I do put on lotion, it isn't for looks; it's only for comfort, when the skin is getting so dry that it starts stretching and stinging at the knuckles. (It might also be for scent, since of course I own a bunch of fragrance-drenched lotions.) The cuticles haven't been treated in any way, shape, or form for months. I don't paint my nails or bite them, but I seldom trim them either; so they're uneven from one finger to another, each getting torn off and smoothed down as it gets to be too long, or happens to break. I've got a couple fading spots on my knuckles where there were scabs from knocking against something or other. You can see blue veins through the backs of my hands. The only decoration is my wedding ring, which is indeed gorgeous, but not ostentatious. I practically never get the "Whoa! Check out those diamonds!" comments some women do on their rings. I love it, and that's all I care about.

I am perfectly contented with my hands. I like how they look. I like that they type fast. I like that they can play piano, at least on a good day when they're warmed up.

Now I just need to reach this level of Zen with my face. I can still take care of it--as with my hands, I should keep it clean, moisturized, and decorated as I see fit (here we're talking lipstick instead of rings)--but zeroing in on all its imperfections is hardly doing me any good. No, I don't look like a model most of the time. Know what? Neither do models. They're Photoshopped. I should appreciate all the little quirky things about my face that make me an individual.

Choose a part of yourself that you never trouble yourself over. Admire it. Breed this admiration, and transfer it to other parts. Relax.

Ommm.

(Thank you for attending this self-help session. I take cash, checks, and PayPal.)

Comments

[kalquessa.livejournal.com]

I like my neck. I have a very decent neck. *cleansing breathe*

On the other hand, I chew my nails and cuticles to within truly painful proximity to oblivion. Ow. Bad hands! Be happy, like the neck!

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Lao Tzu say..."one woman's hand is another woman's neck". Be at peace, hands.

[elycia.livejournal.com]

Well, I can't speak for your hands, never having seen a photo of them, but your face is perfectly lovely, so I shouldn't think that level of Zen should have to be *too* hard to attain!

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you. You're very sweet. But you know, of course, those photos were somewhat Photoshopped too... :) ("Eek, my cheeks are shiny! Get the blur tool!")

[bluesound.livejournal.com]

HELP! HELP! The end of the world is nigh!
A woman who is content with part of her body!!!

I think I don't know anyone 'normal' any more.

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Heheh. I'll tell you a secret: most women who moan about their "ugliness" don't actually find themselves so very ugly. They're just trying to attract your attention and elicit compliments. We've all been known to do it.

[jennae.livejournal.com]

For me...it's my hair. UNTIL I see it in a picture..... ;)

Beautiful ruminations!

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Thankee! Yeah, photos can be a jarring alert. But remember, flashes are cruel and unnatural. :)

[terrylj.livejournal.com]

I love my hands too. My fingers are long and strong; my wrists are teeny-tiny. My nails are about like yours. I am always happy with my hands.

Now, if I could just transfer that mind-set to my thighs...but they're not teeny-tiny, is the problem. *sigh*

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Hehe...well, thighs needn't be tiny. They must be strong, and support us! They must be laps for kids and puppies! And who needs short shorts anyhow? (I have very short legs, which I've never been terribly fond of, but I just ignore them these days. It's easier that way.)

[modmerseygirl.livejournal.com]

Wow. WOW!!! :-) Thank you. *hugs* I feel so empowered now! :-)

Our hands sound very much alike. LOL I have never done a cuticle treatment nor do I keep my nails evenly trimmed or painted (most of the time), either. ;-)

This was a really terrific post. Thank you!!!

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Cool! Hurray for empowerment. Glad it worked!

Hands are meant to do stuff, not to be pretty and idle. Why were we given opposable thumbs, otherwise? So nail vanity is just a waste of time, really. :)

[modmerseygirl.livejournal.com]

LOL! So true! Preach it, sistah. :-) *hugs*

Have a splendid weekend. Any plans? :-)