Yesterday I was sat on the bus.
Not quite as 'Ab-Fab' as some may think I am! And there's nothing wrong with that; I love the bus! We should all of course share transport more often and help cut our carbon footprint.
But here's what I want to talk about.
A young girl, all of 17 got on the bus. Very pretty young girl, gorgeous lovely long wavy, waist length hair.
But something caught my eye.
You see she was wearing a lot, and I mean a LOT of makeup.
So much makeup there was a very clear change in tone between where her foundation ended and her real, fresh pale skin began by her ear.
And it made me a little sad. It made me sad because she clearly felt she needed to look a particular way. It shouldn't have made me sad - but it did.
And it got me thinking.
It got me thinking about how shouldn't we all just embrace the way we look. Embrace our age (whatever it may be). Embrace our flaws, stop looking to 'fit in'?
To which MY answer is … YES! … YES! … YES! … YES!
But here’s the thing.
Things aren’t quite that simple.
To a very large extent people feel inside at age 40, age 50, age 60, age 70, age 80, age 90 and beyond how they did at age 20!
Our inner self doesn’t age quite in the same way as our outer self.
And sometimes, for SOME people when we look in the mirror the reflection doesn’t match how we feel inside. For the young girl on the bus, her reflection without makeup didn't match how she felt inside.
Now logic tells us that we shouldn’t worry about it.
How we look isn’t very important. The person we are is MUCH more important.
And you know it is ... as do I. That’s not up for debate here.
There is however a little hiccup in this logic ...
Our emotions don’t respond very well to logic!
We’ve all had the experience where logically something wasn’t a good idea. It wasn’t a good idea to go out with this man (or lady); it was a logically good idea to buy this car, or house.
BUT, what wins?
Our emotions or logic?
Look back and I think you’ll see and I’m sure know you.
EMOTIONS RULE US.
So how do we solve this?
The fact that we know we should embrace all our flaws. We should accept ourselves for what we are, love ourselves, be happy no matter what?
When, logic tells us to do that BUT our emotions tell us ‘your hair needs colouring’, ‘you need new shoes’, ‘your laughter lines are looking deeper’ etc, etc?
My take?
If you are really going to accept YOU for YOURSELF then YOU should embrace what makes YOU the happiest. What makes YOU the most confident in yourself. What means YOU can give your best self to the word …
And go with the flow.
If you need a new pair of shoes to help you ‘walk a little taller’ – go for it!
If you need to wear lipstick to help you feel more ‘feminine’ – go for it!
If you want to get a giant tattoo of Mickey Mouse on your back – go for it!
If you want to look after your skin and help keep it supple and youthful – go for it!
Life is way to short to tie yourself up with what you should and shouldn’t do. What you should and shouldn’t wear. What you shouldn't or shouldn't enjoy.
Or even to start worrying about whether the media is or isn’t making us all feel like we should conform to a certain look.
Live your life on your terms, love yourself however you feel best and enjoy every single moment.
And if fancy a big cream cake today ... perhaps you should have one ;-). I know I would!
Have an amazing day,
Tracey xx
Comments
Siobhan on May 17 2020 at 12:01PM
I remember actually crying as a young girl because my mother had insisted I go out to the shops and I had no makeup on!…..I felt naked and ugly without it…..I am now 70 and as recently as yesterday I criticised myself on my lines and loss of firmness…crazy as I am old enough and been through enough in my life not to care……my mother dyed her hair 4 days before she passed 3 years ago and always wore full makeup every day, even in hospital..the doctors couldn’t believe she was 90…….anyway thanks for your article, so very true….
Barbara on September 14 2019 at 08:22AM
Ps sorry did not finish my blog I must have clicked post by mistake.. I will do it again if you would like me to
Barbara on September 14 2019 at 08:11AM
I am a 79 year old waiting for over 9 weeks for the result of a punch biopsy on a small sore on my face that I have had for almost a year. Yes I have been to my gp who has given me steroid and antibiotic creams which have had no effect.I have always looked after my skin and have never had any problems. Always used a 50 factor ceeam on my face and used bare mineral make up. My dermatologist suggested I look for a beauty product that had no Parabens fillers a
Elaine on January 11 2019 at 07:58PM
I totally agree with everything you say,l’m 71 & hesitated but thought hey l’m going to give them a go as they look fantastic so l ordered my products yesterday & can’t wait for them to arrive.x
Jacqueline Obrien on October 14 2018 at 03:05PM
Spot on! Cannot wait to get my goodies and try them all. I got my Friend the eye gel for her birthday and she adores it! Keep doing what you’re doing xx
Mary brunt on October 14 2018 at 08:58AM
I am myself always one thing I would never be without is your products Tracy,they bring pure sunshine into my life Thank you
Amanda Rice on October 14 2018 at 08:58AM
Tracey, my love as always spot on. A beautiful truthful read xxx
Irene on October 14 2018 at 08:58AM
I couldn’t agree more Tracey. We spend our lives not doing things for one reason or another, rarely for our own real happiness. My mum, who passed a few years ago now aged 91 was in the Land Army for the duration of the war and decided to break the curfew one night and stayed out late- when she returned to her lodgings a doodlebug had hit it! If she’d gone home at the right time…So she was brilliant at saying “ Go on, do it, wear it…you might not have the chance again”
Thank you for sharing your thoughts Tracey, you talk sense, like my lovely mum.xxx
Christine Pash on October 14 2018 at 08:58AM
You are so right. I am 69 and told I look at least 10 years younger but inside I feel 20 years younger. I would never go out without lipstick, now some people laugh at that, but it makes me feel good. I say To my grandson that I was born with a lipstick in my hand. As long as I have that I don’t need any other make up.
Do what makes you feel good, life is too short not to.
Alison maccabee on October 14 2018 at 08:59AM
Yup,, very good little story, i would have felt the same, when i was 20, i was in a pub with my then man,,i pulled out my lipstick to freshen my lips. A lot older than me lady came to me, put her hand over my lipstick, said ,,being young is beauty in it self,, dont dirty it with make up ,, quite profound ,the wayshe approached me, i cant remember the rest of the conversation, she stayed chatting for a while, my grandmother had also sajd . Live a good life, be kind ,who you are and how you lived will show in your face,,i know and remember that older lady ,she was beautiful.good memory for me xxx
Karina Foster on October 14 2018 at 08:59AM
Absolutely!! Well said x
Liz Beak on October 14 2018 at 08:59AM
When I was in my 20s, I felt I had to be perfect (make up, size & weight) which I never was! I never thought I was good enough! No one ever told me I was!
As I aged through the decades, I became wiser, learned about seasonal colours/body styles through ‘House of Colour’, which gave me the confidence to love myself with all my flaws.
Now I am approaching the next decade & accept all my flaws, which makes me a happier person. I believe I’m more chilled!
Discovering Highborn London products in the last few months has just given me the BIGGEST boost to my ego! Am now looking forward to the Big 60 next year & feel inside a much more comfortable & happier person (the flaws are still there but I embrace them!)
Rona Antoniou on October 14 2018 at 08:59AM
Logic tells me that when my bones hurt it’s because of my age. My emotions tell me there’s not one single thing that’s good about getting old!!!
Stacy on October 14 2018 at 08:59AM
Thank you, your words are inspirational, it is not always easy, but I try everyday to make an effort to take of myself. I’m a mom of two gals, my oldest is 4years and my youngest is 10 months. So I always put myself on the back burner.
Cathy Brain on October 14 2018 at 08:59AM
EXACTLY ,,,, LOVELY WAY 2 SAY IT XX😊😊😊
Maria on October 14 2018 at 08:59AM
so very true,we should embrace how we are and appreciate what we have,life is too short.
got to be happy 😁xxx
Helen on October 14 2018 at 08:59AM
So true, love this x
Jane Gill on October 14 2018 at 08:59AM
I received a lovely compliment this morning from my postman. He has never spoken to me before, other than the usual ‘good morning’ – this morning I had just applied my serum & moisturiser as the postman knocked on the door, he had a parcel for me. I opened the door and he said “ ooh you smell nice” – Then looked a little embarrassed as he had obviously spoken his thoughts out loud. Quite funny really but made me smile all day 😊 xx