Redefining Beauty In A Filtered World

We live in a very “filtered” culture. Real beauty has a different meaning for everyone.

If you have access to a smartphone or a computer, you can take photos of yourself and practically edit them to your liking. I find this fascinating and sometimes unsettling. Especially when I see a photo of someone that’s been edited and filtered to the point where they no longer look like their real self anymore.

I see a lot of women doing this to the point where it’s become a bit excessive. And different women I’ve seen using filters, who I personally think look great without using them, keep hiding behind these tools and different features. And while using filters is an individual choice, I believe it’s a great time to redefine beauty in this filtered world we’re living in.

You don’t ever have to feel or believe you are not enough as you are. You were born with beauty, inside and out, and no filter should hide that.

I’m no stranger to filters but I don’t use or rely on them often. And when I have used them, my facial features have not been drastically enhanced beyond the point of recognition. I still look like my real self in my photos. I don’t believe filters are a bad thing, but I believe it’s important, especially for women, to allow their real beauty to shine.

I’ve found that taking advantage of natural lighting (especially during this beautiful summer season) makes for wonderful photos too. 😊

You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). Embrace that. Consider stepping away from some of those filters you filter all your photos with and allow who you really are to shine.

The Day I Became A Kidney Donor

About a year ago, I had a dream my dad wanted to talk to our family about something serious. I wasn’t sure what he wanted to discuss, but I knew it was something I needed to prepare myself for. Around the time after I had this dream, I remember stopping by my parents place and sensing something was going on that they weren’t telling me. I tried to dismiss what I’d been feeling, but I couldn’t shake it. Something serious was happening. As I returned to my home after visiting them one day, I was in my kitchen washing dishes when a heaviness hit my heart like nothing I’d ever felt before. Something’s wrong with dad. That’s what that dream was about. God, what’s going on? As I continued washing dishes, I started crying and praying. Then in mid-spring, my dad held an unexpected family meeting that would change all our lives forever. He hesitated at first, and as his voice started cracking and he started crying, he said, “Well, I wanted to talk to ya’ll to tell you that I have kidney disea...

I’m Glad I’m Not Married

When I was about five years old, I was sitting in the backseat of my dad’s car when me, him, my older cousin (my aunt’s son), and my aunt (my dad’s sister) caught my aunt’s fiancé with another woman. My dad had been driving my aunt out to run some errands since she didn’t have a driver’s license or a car. When she spotted her man with another woman, she told my dad to pull the car over, got out of the car, and immediately addressed him. She wanted the keys back to her apartment and was done with him. The other woman she caught her fiancé with slapped him when she realized what was happening, and that was that. When my aunt returned to the car, she was clearly and understandably upset, and the ride back to her place was quiet. Although I was too young to fully grasp what was happening at the time, I knew it wasn’t good. And now, at 34 years old, I can’t imagine how much pain she was in. Her wedding had been planned and paid for – and she never made it down the aisle. My aunt was a beaut...

How To Respond To A Nasty Email

Technology has made many people bold, rude, and incredibly messy. Often to the point where some may hide behind words they’ve typed instead of verbally communicating a message they want to convey. Such can be the case when it comes to sending emails. Ah, emails. You know what they are. Electronic messages that can be quickly drafted, sent, and misinterpreted (because you can’t always interpret tones or emotions through them). Which is why it’s key to know how to respond to nasty emails if they should ever come your way – especially in the workplace. As a working professional, there have been plenty of times when a coworker or superior sent an email my way that was petty, mad disrespectful, and unprofessional. And before I learned how to properly utilize email etiquette, my first instinct would always be to clap back. I just felt the need to respond and to communicate that I wouldn’t allow anyone, no matter who they were, to disrespect me. And while I haven’t taken t...

Making Waves