A man and a woman were sitting on a bench and got to talking. They had met only a few times before but talked openly together about their lives, families, friends, and struggles. In the midst of the conversation, the woman turned to the man, pulling an old photograph from her purse, and said “I want to show you a picture.” The man accepted it, viewing it closely. The picture appeared to be several years old and showed the woman lovingly braiding the hair of her young daughter. The man examined the photo and after a long while turned to the woman and said “I love what a beautiful moment this is for both of you. It’s so clear how much you adore each other, and how much your daughter admires you.” The woman looked at him, surprised, as he went on. “This is the kind of picture I would have framed in my living room.” After a moment’s hesitation, the woman looked a the man and said…”I meant to show you how large I used to be, how much weight I have lost.” The man looked back at her stating, “I never would have paid any attention to how much you weighed in this picture. I was so taken by the moment, that I never would have given it any thought.”
Beauty is found in our relationships. We have become so caught up in appearances that we fail to see the beauty found in seemingly insignificant moments of our lives, which are often the most beautiful.
I fell into this trap just last week when I was asked to send photographs to USA Today for their coverage of collegiate eating disorders. I was perusing though my photos and found myself holding back from submitting pictures that didn’t “flatter” my body. I stopped myself to think and realized that the photos I was intentionally omitting were emblematic of one of the happiest moments of my life – winning the Miss UNC election to support Embody Carolina. Ironic and sad. It was a disheartening moment for me, but one that has helped me adjust my own mindset for the better.
I charge us all to stop and reflect on how beauty is found in even our most awkward smiles, our greatest bear hugs, and moments that made us cry for joy. If I were to ask each of you to list the qualities that you love in your best friend, likely you would describe his/her/zer/zis kind demeanor, loyalty, humor, compassion, zest for life, etc. I doubt that elements of their appearance would top your list. Why should we give ourselves any less? Change your perspective. Change the conversation.
Beauty is found in our relationships. We have become so caught up in appearances that we fail to see the beauty found in seemingly insignificant moments of our lives, which are often the most beautiful.
I fell into this trap just last week when I was asked to send photographs to USA Today for their coverage of collegiate eating disorders. I was perusing though my photos and found myself holding back from submitting pictures that didn’t “flatter” my body. I stopped myself to think and realized that the photos I was intentionally omitting were emblematic of one of the happiest moments of my life – winning the Miss UNC election to support Embody Carolina. Ironic and sad. It was a disheartening moment for me, but one that has helped me adjust my own mindset for the better.
I charge us all to stop and reflect on how beauty is found in even our most awkward smiles, our greatest bear hugs, and moments that made us cry for joy. If I were to ask each of you to list the qualities that you love in your best friend, likely you would describe his/her/zer/zis kind demeanor, loyalty, humor, compassion, zest for life, etc. I doubt that elements of their appearance would top your list. Why should we give ourselves any less? Change your perspective. Change the conversation.