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 Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder....right? Maybe the beholder needs to get their eyes checked or put on their contacts, renew their glasses prescription or put on some 3D glasses! See, many times the eyes of the beholder is from the face looking in the mirror. We are our worst critics. We look in the mirror and see everything that is a perceived flaw...that less than perfect skin...the bad hair day...teeth that could use some TLC...a little pouch here and little pouch there. We see it all magnified. Our self perceived flaws loom so large they overshadow the beauty that looks back at us when we're in the mirror.

We tend to compare ourselves mercilessly. This person may have the perfect body; it appears that they work out and can eat whatever they'd like. You look at yourself and wonder why it seems you've acquired more belly than boodie or why you gain a pound just thinking of something sweet. You may admire that someone who has flawless hair. You wonder how many hours they spent getting ready or what you'd need to do to acquire their perfection. You compare and you sigh...you compare and you judge yourself...you compare and allow the negative voices in your head to chatter incessantly...you compare and compare and compare until what's looking back at you is formless. You lose yourself wishing to be someone else.

I could go on about how the media has appeared to set the standard for beauty; after all they are responsible for making us think that in order to have a perfect life one must resemble...let's see...Halle Berry? Well it seems the beautiful Ms.Berry is human after all with broken relationships and failed marriages. some of the things that life experiences are made of; her life has not been perfect but she is counted as one of the most beautiful women in the world. The media's job is to perpetuate an inaccurate version of reality...We have to create our reality that  is not based on what "we're told" through television shows, music videos or movies.

The prettiest girl of them all is any woman reading this article. Your beauty runs so much more than skin deep. Your allure isn't in the MAC makeup that you wear. Your sensuality isn't dependent on the size of your breasts or your behind..It's you. Simple as that.

Jill Scott is by far one of the most profound female artists ever in my opinion. I had the opportunity to see her perform live a few years ago and I was convinced I would be a fan for life. Her melodies are compelling; her voice is inviting; her energy is magnetic! All I have to hear is her classic...Living my life like it's golden..and my day brightens up!

I pay homage to Jill Scott and the other fabulous women that are doing their thing! As women we wear many hats and have multi tasking responsibilities that only a CEO of a major company could understand. Because we are women we are powerful and strong! It takes 9 months for us to give birth to a civilization and we are the only ones that have been given that awesome responsibility. We are the ones that birth our future leaders and then groom them once they're born for their greatness.

Everything about being a woman is God's creativity manifested! Remember that today, no matter what you're doing or where you're going. Remember your profound greatness. Remember...you are woman...now hear me roar!

As much as I strive to be the woman I was called/created to be I'm not perfect. And it's not that I thought I was on a conscious level but on some level arrogance permitted me to think I was damn near...I guess. But conversations which can lead to insight...is a powerful thing. It knocks you off of your pedestal and allows you to fall flat onto and into reality. See I'm a really easy going, laid back, lavender and butterflies kind of woman. I love easily. I love family. I belive in relationships. I believe in people. Maybe all on a surface level. But when you dig a bit deeper and pry open the layers you see the imperfections. You see the gaping wounds that still need lavendar salve to help them heal. This acknowledgment can only help me. It can only be my catalyst to Open my Eyes to Me. To see that it's not always....someone's else's fault...that I feel the way I do. I have to work on/create belief systems that I truly feel. And I truly feel things. I will only reach my perfection when butterflies are released and my ashes are scattered in the crystal blue sea....until then I'm an ongoing work in progress.

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,The fellows stand orFall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touchMy inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
~Maya Angelou

...that's me. that's you. affirm it each and every day. i am a phenomenal woman.

In no particular order...

1. chase butterflies
2. travel extensively
3. shop for sundresses
4. shop for lingerie
5. decorate spaces
6. sell sea shells on the beach
7. make smell goods for the home
8. learn new things and share them
9. develop support groups for teenage girls
10. make raising brown boys a national phenomenon
11. open a book store
12. write
13. open a coffee shop
14. read
15. find the most interesting blogs
16. have an international ring of women who find themselves beautiful

You know those women. Strong and confident. You can easily spot them out. It's not necessarily what they are wearing or even how they look. It's their energy. Really powerful and confident. You can tell they're at ease in their skin and their bodies. It doesn't seem like they're trying to impress anyone. just themselves. I love it! That's the kind of woman I strive to be.