Sunday 21 April - We don't think we're beautiful

beau·ti·ful  

adj.

1. Having qualities that delight the senses, especially the sense of sight.

2. Excellent; wonderful.

I've been thinking so much about this lately and its been really bothering me. Why do women find it so difficult sometimes to define ourselves as beautiful?

Is it because of the culture of negative advertising that bombards us with fears about what we're not?

The plastic surgeons, shampoo makers, diet pill creators and make up technicians actually want us to doubt our beauty. Generally they create advertisements that depend on this. See this girl? This photo-shopped, made-up, model thin, white-teethed, smooth-haired, flawless, fashionable girl? This is beauty. This is what is pleasing to the eye. And for each category within which you fall short? Well don't worry, we have a product for that.....

I shared a Dove commercial a few days ago which led me to discover some other wonderful efforts of theirs to create a culture of positivity and confidence in an industry that too often relies on our own self-contempt for their sales. Some of their video campaigns brought tears to my eyes....

Because we all deserve to look ourselves in the mirror each day, smile and say:

"I just wanted to let you know, you're looking beautiful today...."