In My Own Skin: Beautiful In My Own Skin

Beautiful is not a word I have often used to describe myself. To describe nature, other women, music, feelings - sure. But myself - well, let's just say that the adjectives that go through my mind to describe myself are generally far, far away from "beautiful". Of course, there have been moments. Looking at pictures of my wedding, for example. Maybe trying on a new piece of clothing that actually fits! Lately, I've been applying it to myself purposefully because... well, because I know I'm beautiful. Now, today - not ten or twenty pounds from now. Not next hair cut. Not next shopping trip. Today. In my own skin. My own imperfect, too curvy, too stretch-marked skin. The thing is, I know that my body is just as much a part of creation as a flower or a mountain or a moving sunset. I know that my body is a gift from a loving Heavenly Father, not to mention an earthly mother who went through a whole lot to give it to me. My body can run and jump and dance. It can show me the world. It can work and play and breathe. It is a miracle. A true wonder of creation. And it's mine. My beautiful body - a work of God to admire every day. The problem is I'm normally talking to it and about it as though it were some hideous concrete structure obscuring a beautiful view. Ever felt this way? Yeah, I thought you might. Deep down inside myself, I believe that I am beautiful. And I believe that beauty is not just on the inside of me - it's on the outside, too. And you know what, I think you're beautiful, too. I know that might be harder for you to believe than believing that someone else is beautiful, but it's just as true. I hope you will stop in and join me in my journey to discover the beauty of God's crowning creation - woman.

Every week I will post a profile of a beautiful woman, or a review of a book that has helped me on my journey to finding my outer beauty, or some other tidbit relating to true outer beauty and how to find it in ourselves. I will also post pictures of women I think are beautiful. In some of these women, you will immediately see beauty, maybe not in others, but I think if you look often enough, with an eye to find their beauty, you will find it. If you would like to be included in the beautiful woman gallery, or if you would like to include a photo of someone you love (with their permission), please send it to beautiful.in.my.own.skin@gmail.com.

I call this a journey because I still struggle to believe I'm beautiful - just about every day. Since it is relatively easy for me to see the beauty in my friends or to call others beautiful, I am going to challenge myself to find a picture of myself in which I feel beautiful and include it in every week's gallery. I really hope you will join me because, after all, you are a beautiful woman.

Kelsey (and Brent)