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Sometimes we all need to be reminded that we are beautiful and that beauty is ageless. You may have missed the clip above from this past Monday morning’s NBC Today Show. Had I not been on I would not have watched since I have been in protest mode since Anne Curry was fired. Oprah was on at the same time with Gayle and Charley Rose promoting The Butler. But in case you missed it, I wanted to share it.
Growth sometimes comes in unexpected ways. I had a lesson on beauty. I did not have poor self esteem relative to how I looked as a young person because what I lacked in physical beauty I made up in brains. Just say’n. This is how I held my vision of who I was together. I was no slouch but given society’s definition of beauty, I would not have won beauty contests. I won other contests that I came to believe mattered. Again, my reasoning.
I say this to say that seeing myself on electronic media got me over a mental hump. I realize I can communicate using this medium, if I want to because I give myself permission to. I don’t know if that makes any sense. But my unspoken hang-up about my physicality on the “beauty” front seems to have shrunk.
People have asked me how I came to be involved in this production. Jen of WeAreWomenOnline asked me whether I might be interested in participating. In truth, I do not know the specifics of how things unfolded before it got to me. My understanding is that NBC’s Today Show wanted to produce a piece based on the huge response the NY Times received after a humorist blogger posted her experience on turning 60 and buying a swimsuit —- as if BOOMERS ARE NOT ASPIRATIONAL AND DO NOT WANT TO LOOK GOOD. I could talk about this at length but let me stay focused.
My first inclination was to say no since I would have no control over the message. Then someone I shared this request with stated that “possibly” I might get an opportunity to mention my website and good things could come of this. So that was my motivation. I guess you can see I continue to believe in opportunity. This did not happen …..yet 😀
But as a result of this experience, I wound up with more confidence about my personal beauty. Rock On!!! I give thanks my body is serving me with good health and I can deal with the rest. There are cosmetics, clothes to hide flaws and even corrective procedures, if that is what you want to do.
Tell me, how do you feel about your beauty? Got any little hangups still lingering?
Robyn says
Ahhhh, I love this video! I really see beauty in women’s strength and goddess energy! Right now I am on a bootcamp exercise kick, although I am slimming down, I still have hang ups about parts of my body. But, more importantly, I FEEL good, feel strong and that makes me more confident. I think beauty is a combination of all those things. There is beauty in all of us and I feel as people get older they start to realize just how beautiful they really are.
Patricia A Patton says
So cool of you to come over to my blog. Thank you for the compliment on the video and love the term “goddess energy.” What is up with the bootcamp exercise kick. I must admit the best training I ever had 15 years ago was with a former Marine who ran a bootcamp in Newark NJ for about 5 women at the YMCA. We got weights and aerobics and I definitely need to build muscle. That part of my physical activity is soooo lacking and I cannot lose weight without it. As I have aged I am thankful my body supports health. I need to do my part now.
pat moran says
So glad you decided to join in on the Today show so my hubby and I could get to meet such an inspiring and BEAUTIFUL woman ! Your words on this blog are beautiful also, and we would have not have discovered your talent for writing had you not taken part. We are now fans ! Keep up the great job !
Patricia A Patton says
Hi Pat
Thank you for reading my blog and for being so generous in sharing the stuff from our Today Show appearance. It was an interesting day, all the more so for touching base with you. Please feel free to comment whenever somethign strikes your fancy. It is why I write and I want to know what you think.