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...

Thoughts From a Black Educator: Qualified, Credentialed, and Constantly Undermined

I’m a Black educator in my fifth year of teaching middle school English, and in my third as the 8th Grade English PLC (Professional Learning Community) Lead. And while I genuinely enjoy the purposeful work I get to do, seeing the growth of my scholars, and continuing to hone my skills in a content area I’ve loved since I was a little girl, I’ve had to confront some unpleasant experiences in this space. I’d been through much worse when I was an academic advisor at a Christian university. Racism, sexism, harassment, and workplace bullying were sadly norms in that environment. However, some of what I’ve experienced as a Black educator hasn’t been normal … It doesn’t seem normal to be the only Black educator in my department – in a predominantly Black school. One of my Black colleagues once said, “It should look like a Tyler Perry movie in here.” But it doesn’t. It didn’t feel normal being reprimanded in a meeting (during my second year of teaching) by an administrator who went in on...

The Day I Made A Will

When I was a teenager, I remember writing a list of my greatest fears. One of the things I listed was death. Looking back, it was an interesting item to list because inevitably, death is something each of us will face at some point in our lives. Even though it’s no longer a fear of mine, I understand why and how it’s not a comfortable thing for everyone to navigate. But regardless, this past summer I completed a detailed will. I signed it, had witnesses sign it, and got it notarized. As I was getting everything done, one of the witnesses looked at me and said, “You know, it’s just that you’re so young…” I’ve learned that death doesn’t care how young or how old you are. You can be five, fifteen, thirty, or fifty, and it’s still something that happens. Completing my will wasn’t scary. It gave me peace of mind having documentation in place stating my detailed directives and requests. A year ago, I had one of my kidneys removed. It was a surgery that came with risks that were presented cle...

Making Waves