Keeping the retreat foremost in my mind while at the salon.
I had an amusing thought this morning as I was showering. When I am on retreat you will never see me with make-up on. I bring it. But I don't put it on; there will be no glamour shot of me. It is the polar opposite of my job, where you will never see me without make-up.
Last year I met up with a guy friend. I hadn't seen him in a long time and so, of course, I wanted to look good. I was happy with my outfit. I was surprised with how happy I was with my hair. And of course, I spent some time applying my make-up.
Now, you should know I am not terribly good at the whole "getting made-up" thing. I rarely use foundation, I use powder. I can't say I am remotely close to being an expert at doing my eyes. It was never something I was all that interested in playing with. My sister Annemarie was quite the primper back in the day and so it was no surprise when she became a Mary Kay consultant. Despite her lessons, I am still rather lame at all of this. (As an FYI, her daughter also works at a salon and spa and is registered to begin "beauty school" in February.) I work with people who literally look beautiful all day long. More often than not, I could use a quick reminder to put on some lipstick.
Sooo, when my friend asked me why women "paint" themselves with make-up I was a little taken aback as well as a little hurt. I had taken my time to look good "for" him and he didn't get it. I called him on the comment and his answer was that of every father to their daughters as they enter the teen years, "You look beautiful no matter what."
::: sigh :::
This was, of course, an excellent answer. This is a guy who knew me in my teenage years when I was that skinny girl back in the picture HERE. He loved me then and he loves me now and it truly doesn't matter if I have make-up on or not. He wanted to have lunch and visit, what I looked like was secondary to him. For the record, he did not put on make-up.
In any event, I suppose that make-up makes me the grown up version of myself. The one who goes to work and helps put a little money in the family coffers. The unmade up me is the grown up version of myself who keeps my family in check by taking care of myself.
Today, I head back to the salon. Painted. But the truth is, my heart likes knowing my unmade up self is the one making a difference in this world. My unmade up self is the one my friends and family see the most, and hey, they love me with or without eyeliner.
xo
Last year I met up with a guy friend. I hadn't seen him in a long time and so, of course, I wanted to look good. I was happy with my outfit. I was surprised with how happy I was with my hair. And of course, I spent some time applying my make-up.
Now, you should know I am not terribly good at the whole "getting made-up" thing. I rarely use foundation, I use powder. I can't say I am remotely close to being an expert at doing my eyes. It was never something I was all that interested in playing with. My sister Annemarie was quite the primper back in the day and so it was no surprise when she became a Mary Kay consultant. Despite her lessons, I am still rather lame at all of this. (As an FYI, her daughter also works at a salon and spa and is registered to begin "beauty school" in February.) I work with people who literally look beautiful all day long. More often than not, I could use a quick reminder to put on some lipstick.
Sooo, when my friend asked me why women "paint" themselves with make-up I was a little taken aback as well as a little hurt. I had taken my time to look good "for" him and he didn't get it. I called him on the comment and his answer was that of every father to their daughters as they enter the teen years, "You look beautiful no matter what."
::: sigh :::
This was, of course, an excellent answer. This is a guy who knew me in my teenage years when I was that skinny girl back in the picture HERE. He loved me then and he loves me now and it truly doesn't matter if I have make-up on or not. He wanted to have lunch and visit, what I looked like was secondary to him. For the record, he did not put on make-up.
In any event, I suppose that make-up makes me the grown up version of myself. The one who goes to work and helps put a little money in the family coffers. The unmade up me is the grown up version of myself who keeps my family in check by taking care of myself.
Today, I head back to the salon. Painted. But the truth is, my heart likes knowing my unmade up self is the one making a difference in this world. My unmade up self is the one my friends and family see the most, and hey, they love me with or without eyeliner.
xo
