LOOKING GOOD, FEELING GOOD by Linda
Have you ever noticed how you're feeling good when you're looking good? Getting dressed up for a wedding, a party, or some special occasion gives us all a reason to put on a little extra makeup, fix our hair nicer than usual, wear fancy clothing. We can look at ourselves in the mirror and say, "Hmm, not bad." Psychologically, it brings us up. Then, the flip side of that is feeling down when you're not looking good. Now, of course it is impossible to always look and feel good and, naturally, we are not always going to be dressing up, but for our emotional well-being it is vital to try and look the best that we can. For those of us who are disabled, it is especially true.
Unfortunately, many disabled women do not have high self-esteem. We may look at other women standing up straight with shapely bodies and feel we cannot measure up to them. Many of us have muscle that has turned to fatty tissue because of years of sitting in wheelchairs. Some women need leg braces, crutches, walkers or canes as aides in walking. Some may use hearing aids or thick glasses. These things may make a woman feel unattractive and all women want to look pretty.
Also, there are women because of physical or health problems unable to work outside of the home. These women may feel there is no reason to dress up for they are not going anyplace. So, they get into ruts. They begin to care less about their appearance. Well, ladies, let's not do that.
Please don't get me wrong. I'm not saying we are unattractive because we are disabled. We all know that beauty comes from within. But, knowing and feeling are two very different things. One of the ways of feeling good about yourself is looking good. I don't mean you should apply tons of makeup everyday, wear fancy dresses, and drape yourself with lots of jewelry. What I am saying is that if you do want to do those things and if they make you feel good, you should. Don't feel that because you are not going out to work, you shouldn't put on a pair of earrings or wear a pretty top because there is no reason to. If it makes you feel good, that's reason enough.
We are all women, disabled and able-bodied. Just because we may be sitting in wheelchairs, that doesn't mean we shouldn't put on lipstick or perm our hair. Why shouldn't we look nice? I'm certainly not saying we have to look movie-star beautiful or model-type thin. I'm also not suggesting we need cosmetics to be attractive women. What I am saying is we shouldn't, because of our disabilities, feel we aren't the same as able-bodied women. If changing our hairdo or trying a new shade of lipstick makes us feel feminine or pretty, then do it.
We are all beautiful within. Sometimes, though, we do not feel too good about the way we look on the outside. No, we don't need all sorts of artificial means to show us how beautiful we are or can be, but if we try making a daily routine of looking nice, well maybe we'll feel a little more confident. Maybe that confidence will give us a lift and that beauty within will shine. If we are looking at ourselves and thinking we don't look too good and feel it's no use prettying ourselves up, we only get depressed and emotionally, never feel the beautiful women we are inside.
So, maybe the next time you're feeling a bit down, ladies, why not try that new hairstyle you've wanted for so long or buy yourself that pretty new top you've been admiring in JCPenney's catalogue? We deserve it, right? Always try looking good, not for anyone but yourself, because looking good will definitely make you feel good. And, who doesn't want to feel good?
Copyright ©
|