That was my message at a recent workshop I held for mothers wanting to
stay clean and break their addiction to drugs that range from alcohol,
pot, pills and heroin to crystal meth. Some of
these women live in shelters or struggle to put a roof over their
heads. From my personal experiences I can relate.
"You are beautiful from the inside out..." was my first message to the
room. "We are no different from each other and you deserve to be treated
as an equal." This I firmly believe based on my own life experiences.
Some may assume that with the struggles these women face, "beauty
from the inside out" may not be the most important thing, but they're
dead wrong!
The power that a human gets from understanding that they have
inner beauty, can move mountains. We live in a world where
magazines, TV, radio and social media are constantly telling women they
are better off looking look like someone else (maybe a celebrity). Not being able
to live up to these impossible standards can break a woman, especially one who is already battling an addiction.
Some women may also have to deal with other challenges, like financial insecurity, physical abuse, mental
health issues and crushing poverty. With this weight on their shoulders,
there is often no room for feelings of self-worth. That's where inner
beauty plays an
important role.
By recognizing their "inner beauty," these women can be
reminded that they deserve a good life, just like everyone else. They
deserve love, deserve respect and deserve to be supported through
difficult times, just like
everyone else.
So if you're reading this, know that showing others' their inner beauty is
extremely powerful. So many of us walk around depending on our outside appearances
to represent who we are, but that only lasts so long. As I always say, a
hairstyle lasts a day but self love is forever!
So spread the word, beauty is still just skin deep!
Feel free to write to me with any questions or comments. Remember that we can all bring joy to someone in need.
To love one's self is the beginning of a life long romance. - Oscar Wilde
Give love.
Give hope.
Give faith!
