"L' essentiel est invisible pour les yeux." (What is essential is invisible to the eyes.) - The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
"One of our chief jobs in life, it seems to me, is to realize how rare and valuable each one of us really is - that each of us has something which no one else has - or ever will have - something inside which is unique to all time." - Fred Rogers in Life's Journeys According to Mister Rogers
You may have seen the actress Ashley Judd in television interviews last week commenting on some unpleasant and unflattering critiques of her appearance. While she has enjoyed a thriving career spanning over two decades, recently she had to take some prescription steroids for a sinus infection. The results of this treatment included a puffy face which made comments she called "nasty" and "viotrolic" come her way. She was angry, lashing out against what many see as a world of hypersexualization and a society which often unfairly scrutinizes a woman's appearance. How many of us can relate to her feelings of frustration and inadequacy? All too many of us, I'm afraid.
For every confident person who walks through the doors of FL Crooks & Co, I would say there are at least ten or twenty who sell themselves way too short when it comes to matters of personal dress and style. And why not? We must constantly be on guard to combat an unhealthy obsession with body image that can greet and tease us on a daily basis and make unrealistic demands on us.
To look and feel good, the popular actress Diane Keaton states, "I keep it simple and chic. A gorgeous jacket. A fabulous belt. Then I add character, and that's when a look becomes a signature." Character is bringing the inside out for a personal style rich with depth that is uniquely you.
It's comforting and reassuring to hear the fabulous designer Michael Kors comment on a simple equation to enable one to look and feel optimal. "My designs are inspired by customers, the women I see on a day-to-day basis carrying my bags and wearing my clothes. Figure out what works for you and stick to it. That's what is always going to look the best and make you stand out. Confidence makes you the one that everyone notices. Know yourself, and you will always look great." Michael Kors draws his ideas from you!
Afterall, confidence to meet and greet the world truly comes from the inside out. A favorite author, Anne LaMotte writes, "To love yourself as you are is a miracle, and to seek yourself is to have found yourself, for now. And now is all we have, and love is who we are."
May we realize that the outsides of life are important but the insides are what gives us the sparkle and the shine. May we realize with ever expanding confidence our own worth. May we cultivate our own unique inner beauty and our capacity to love ourself and others. Dressing from the inside out will add radiance and joy to our appearance in this grand adventure of life and living.
