Friday, July 8, 2011

Day 34

Something funny occured to me today.  I just had to share it.

While living in Illinois, I would go days without wearing any makeup.  I do not work outside the home, so I would run all of my errands with my hair in a ponytail and no makeup on.  It can be a scary sight.  Sometimes I would scare myself as I passed by a mirror at Wal Mart.  Still, I continued to go makeup-less.

A couple of weeks before our move, I was talking to my sister about it.  I said, "Great, we're moving, so I'll have to start trying to look good.  I'll have to put makeup on before I got out to do my errands." 
My sister replied, "But that wouldn't be you."  Then, she went on to say, "I remember seeing you at the mall this past winter.  I was there with my friends for a playgroup for our kids.  I saw you, coming in the distance, with your crazy hair, no makeup, and these awful snow boots with your jeans tucked into them.  Your snow boots weren't even cute!  They were horrible.  You were out shopping at the mall like that!  That is who you are."

I laughed and said, "Are my snow boots that awful?" 
She said, "Yes, they are awful!"

She's right.  They are horribly ugly snow boots; however, they are the warmest boots I could find.  I hate having cold feet.  If my feet are cold, then my whole body is cold.  So, even though they get some crazy stares, I wear my boots when there is snow on the ground. 

Why did I think that just because I was moving that I would have to look "pretty" every time I left the house?  I guess it's because I was, even as an adult, hoping to "fit in" and be accepted.  I thought if I wore makeup and had my hair fixed when I left the house, then surely I would make friends more easily.

It never happened.  I didn't change.  This morning, I took my son to summer camp, and then I had to run to the bakery and to Target.  I had on black cotton shorts that I've had for many, many years, and the t-shirt that I slept in.  My hair...you guessed it:  it was in a ponytail.  My face had nothing on it but sunscreen.

Every time I get ready to go run errands and I look in the mirror, I think, "Maybe I should get some makeup on and look more "presentable."  Then, I just walk out the door.  I just don't feel like it's worth the effort. 
I hope makeup isn't the deciding factor on how many friends I have! 
I remember what my sister said to me when I had the converstaion with her before we moved away.  She was right. 

I'll tell you my real secret.  I will tell you the "real" reason I save my makeup wearing for things other than simple errands. 
I will go three or four days without it.  Then, one day, I put my makeup on...the full face!  I put on the powder and mineral veil, my bronzer and blush and eyeshadow and liner.  Then, my favorite...the mascara! 
Finally, I'm done applying.  I look in the mirror.  I think, "Wow!  Heather, you really clean up nicely!"  I feel like I look so pretty!!  That's what days without makeup does to you!  You put it on, and you feel like a new woman!

Every girl needs to feel like a "new woman" every now and then!

1 comment:

  1. I am laughing so hard my stomache hurts. I remember that conversation and I have the snow boots forever sketched in my memory. I can relate to this so much. My favorite was when u said u had on the tshirt u wore to bed, thank god you are beautiful even without your makeup. Thanks for a good laugh and for making me feel like you were here in the room with me.

    ReplyDelete