Monday, February 19, 2007

I'm Not A Covergirl!

I was flipping through a magazine while lounging in my tub, and I thought I'm not sure that this is the greatest place to be viewing beautiful people. After all, all I had to do was glance down at myself to see that I didn't measure up to the magazine ads that were sprawled across the glossy pages. At first, when I looked myself over I started to see my flaws, the things I wish I had the willpower to fix, but then I thought how sad is that? I'm not going to do that to myself today. I thought I am beautiful, every square inch of me. I can either pick myself apart in here, then hop out of the tub, and feel lousy about myself the rest of the day, or I can think I'm pretty lucky to be me. I decided that I would run with the second.

~

I quickly tossed the wet magazine on to the linoleum, and thought about how old I was, and who I have become. I could never see myself at 35, when I was a little girl, it just seemed too old to envision. However, I'm not THAT bad. Yes, I have some gray hair, and when I smile I have wrinkles beside my eyes. And why shouldn't I? I smile and laugh a lot, my family and friends will vouch for that. I thought about my skin. Its not as flexible and smooth as it once was, but again I have seen some amazing days in the warm sun and cool water. I wouldn't trade those summer days and memories for anything. I thought about how my stomach has always been my best attribute, but its not as tight as it once was, but I've had five amazing babies living in there. Beat that!
~

This doesn't mean that I shouldn't get on my treadmill and walk an efficient mile today, but I'm gonna do it because I deserve it, not because I'm ugly and I don't deserve to feel pretty. I read somewhere that men aren't as picky as women are of each other. I thought that HAS to be true! Den makes me feel so pretty. I think he still thinks I am, but for different reasons. He's not in love with my pouty lips when I'm angry, or how bouncy and shiny my hair is while I'm cooking dinner, no he loves me for all the right reasons. He loves my laugh and smile. He loves when I'm happy and I walk a little lighter while holding hands. He loves when I'm standing by the stove and fixing him dinner, because he works so hard. He loves me when I'm rocking a sick baby and I say, "I don't mind." He loves when I'm playing a game on the floor with the boys and I am laughing at their silly antics. He doesn't miss my tight beautiful skin that I had when I was seventeen, but he would miss my smile, laughter and happiness, and I am at the age to recognize that. I want to look as good as I can, but I also know that how you feel about yourself can go further than Covergirl can.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amen to this, Trina!

You know, I must say that you are a very pretty and young-looking mum of 5!

Nicki said...

Amen!!

Wonderful thoughts, Trina.

Nicole said...

Spoken like a pure genius!!! You are SO right. I feel the EXACT same way. I mean EXACTLY!!

I always think that my husband just wants to get it on when he says stuff about me being hot and stuff. BUT then he says it when there is NO way we are going to get it on AND he knows it, so it makes me think that he really means it. I'm SO lucky to have the husband I do. One that loves me no matter that I am no Beyonce' on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover. He loves me for ME!!!

Nadine said...

Trina that was such a well written post. Amen sister! I do have to say first off from the pictures on your blog that you are a beautiful woman. Second, from reading your posts you are a beautiful woman on the inside.

I'm so blessed to have a husband also who loves me just the way that am I and tells me I'm beautiful every chance he gets. At the end of the day don't we wish that for every woman.

Thank you for sharing your insights, today you made smile.

Kim's Life said...

Trina You are right, you are you and that is just perfect. You couldnt have said it any better. I am me and thats just who I am as well. We all can think to much about how old we are and how fat we feel. Hell I joke about it all the time. At the end of the day. The most important person in our lives love us for exactly who we are. Thats what counts.

Anonymous said...

Trina ~ That was so sweet! I really needed to read it today too. As soon as I hopped out of bed this morning I was thinking negative thoughts about myself and how badly I don't want to hit the treadmill! Thanks for the reminder
Michelle

la bellina mammina said...

You're a beautiful woman with 5 beautiful kids!! How many women would like to be in your place. what you wrote makes me think of how lucky I am too, to be blessed with beautiful & healthy kids and partner. Thank you Trina!

Mrs.Martin said...

Happy beautiful thoughts are what we women need to rehearse to ourselves, until they are believed. The media makes it tough enough on a daily basis to believe the beauty we have naturally from the Lord is good enough.

meNmykids said...

You are so confident, and always have been. I admire you for that. You are also very beautiful, with a beautiful family. I try hard to have mercy on myself and see my flaws in a good light, but it doesn't always fly. Just yesterday I told my Sabriena that she'd have a hard time finding a better looking 35 year old mother of 9, but I fear it was just words. I want to feel beautiful for myself and not rely on anyone elses view of me. God made me who I am and gave me the treasures that have shaped me (or unshaped me). You were right to toss that magazine down and just be beautiful.
Gale

marykathryn said...

Ohh Trina, those are the words of wisdom that I have grown to love..I think that you summed it up for all us gals who are just trying to survive in this world of supermodels and crash diets. I too see my flaws and tend to dewell to them until my hubby and wonderful friends make me see that these imperfections are really so small compared to the big picture, so I thank them for that and I thank you!!..BTW.. you know I think you are gorgeous!..:-)

Queen of the Mayhem said...

I think still posessing the ability to speak in complete sentences with 5 children is an accomplishment! I have two children, only one of whom is a boy (oh, and WHAT a boy he is!) and I am STRUGGLING! I loved this post!

Anonymous said...

Ohhhh Trina...you are a hottie...so just hush it up over there! hehehehehe You are gorgeous, seriously....those magazines are SO airbrushed. Atleast that's what I tell myself. hahaha Loved this post...you are SO on the money!

Miss Notesy said...

Good for you! What a great attitude. After reading the first paragraph, I was just going to suggest adding more bubbles to the tub. Those cover everything and are fun to play with to boot. :-)

momto3blessings said...

Great post. I Agree with everything you said.

Sara said...

Trina, you are so wonderful! I really needed to read this today and I knew I came here for a reason. Big hugs!

Miss Notesy said...

Last time I was here and left that other comment, I had stopped my super slow dial up from loading all your pictures on your sidebar and thus I hadn't seen a pic of you.

YES YOU ARE A COVER GIRL! You are beautiful!!!