The answer to the question can be answered in a myriad of fashions.
Some might say they don’t care. Others care but feel rejected so they throw their middle finger to the world. Many might feel obligated to put out a perfect image, while others feel more at ease.
The truth is no one is perfectly comfortable in their own skin. We all want others to like us no matter the height of our fences. We seek out spouses, friends, relatives, or children to fill this void. Dejected persons reject before they can be rejected.
We answer the world with our clothing, posture, hair, face, and our personalities.
There are people that have to have everything organized in their home. They truly become outraged by a knife in the fork spot. Others won’t leave the house without make up. Others reject those with different religious, ethnic, and social backgrounds. Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
What is the significance of my musing?
I want to challenge you to think about how you see the world and how they see you. Don’t just scratch the surface of this question. Spend the time to deliberate the appeal to you.
I want to tell the world that I love them. I want people to see beauty in me, not through looks, but through my actions and my soul.
How do I see others? I see them with beauty. All are a creation of God. Everyone does the best with their life that they know how. They may not be neat, kind, smart, perfect, rich, poor, giving, gracious, but they deserve love. Galatians 5:14 says The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbour as yourself."
Post script
This is not a religious post. I am, however, a religious person. I posted the two scriptures to demonstrate where my thoughts come from.
4 comments:
I'm one of those who won't leave the house without doing my hair and makeup. I think because I don't want to give others a reason to reject me, at least not based on looks. There are so many people that judge by appearance alone. If i don't give them a reason to judge me that way then I sort of force them to get to know me better before they make assumptions of me based on my looks.
It's funny that you wrote this though because I was thinking along these lines earlier today but in terms of my brother. He rejects others right out and the way he dresses and carries himself is a way to get others to reject him, sort of as an excuse for his rejection of them to begin with.
I have thought about this many times.
Nice post, Rebecca!
I actually had some reinforcement of the "real me" today. I packed the boys up and we went to Target to return some things and browse the 75% sale racks. I didn't take the time to do my make-up or do anything with my hair but throw it in a pony-tail, and I was not trying to win any fashion contests either. I did stop and think about whether or not I should fancy myself up before going out, but realized that the time it would take to do that would take away from the time I had to get things done. So, other than brushing my teeth, I ventured out au naturale!
I ran into Alex's teacher at the store and while the first thing to run through my mind was "Oh! My face! My hair! My clothes!", I didn't pick up even the slightest sign from her that I was un-presentable or embarassing to be seen near! It made me really stop and realize that all the time I take to put on a good appearance is worth nothing. It's the personality I have, the actions I take, the values and morals I live my life by... those are the things that people identify me with - not the mascara or the curled hair.
In the back of my mind, I do sometimes worry about what others think of me. However, it isn't in a "How do I look?" way. It is more of a "Am I making you feel comfortable?" way. I like others to be relaxed and themselves. If there is something I can do with myself, i.e: clothes, hair, make-up, attitude... I adjust myself for the sake of others without adjusting ME. Make sense?
I like who I am. When I was younger, I spent way too much energy on trying to be perfect for others thinking that was the basis for deserving love. With a husband who loved unconditionally and motherhood, I realised I am who I am with or without a front.
I love others for who they are and the energy they give, not for the what they 'want' me to see.
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