SUMMERTIME has finally arrived!!

 

Barenaked Face Challenge: A week without make up

In times of commercial media & hollywood films, many girls develope complexes about their looks without realizing it themselves. They start to put make up on their face and make believe they look prettier & better. Many agree that they look like "a whole different person" without make-up. But why is it that some of us hide their faces behind another one? Are we really that mislead by the media? I asked myself these questions lately and found out that I myself was one of those. It was impossible for me to leave the house without at least foundation and mascara on my face. I would feel naked & ugly without it. I never went to school without anything on my face and knowing that I'm not alone with that makes me sad.

Looking into the bathroom mirror one night, without my make up on, after having a really great day made me look at myself & think "Well I don't even look that bad without anything on. Why am I even putting all this stuff into my face?" I played with the thought first and then decided to challenge myself. I decided that for a whole week I'm going to overcome my inner complex about my face and make a new step into the direction of accepting myself just the way that I am.

The first day sure was a challenge. I stood in front of the mirror with nothign but a bit of chapstick in my face wondering if I really wanted to do this. I had this huge sense of uncomfort inside of me. Keeping questioning myself over and over if this was the right thing or people are going to mock me all day I left the house. Sitting in the tram I suddenly realized how stupid this was. Why would people mock me when there are at least 10 others who never wear make up to school?At the end it turned out that all of my fears were counting for nothing. To the contrary, people were approaching me in a nicer way. It seems that being finally me gave a more natural hue to my personality. I was easygoing & never had anxiety about the way I looked because I just didn't care.

Doing this for a week. I found myself being closer to my classmates and deepening my friendship with them. I was carefree and had a lot more time in the mornings. I think I really changed to the positive. And I don't really think it's the missing make up that changed me to the better. It's the attitude I developed towards myself that it is perfectly okay to accept myself the way I am and expect naturally that people take me for who I am. I believe that such an attitude towards yourself attracts people more than all the make up in the world because it makes you radiate your inner beauty inside out and show the world that you are comfortable being who you are no matter how you look. Those 7 days were really worth it and I recommend it to everyone who may be anxious about their barenaked face. At the end, no matter how you look, you are always what you emit. And as long as you carry this anxiety inside of you you will always emit that in a way. So if you want to free yourself of it go for it and always keep in mind that you are great and amazing just the way you are :)

xo Cory

Eat. Pray. Love.

"Liz Gilbert (Roberts) had everything a modern woman is supposed to dream of having - a husband, a house, a successful career - yet like so many others, she found herself lost, confused, and searching for what she really wanted in life. Newly divorced and at a crossroads, Gilbert steps out of her comfort zone, risking everything to change her life, embarking on a journey around the world that becomes a quest for self-discovery. In her travels, she discovers the true pleasure of nourishment by eating in Italy; the power of prayer in India, and, finally and unexpectedly, the inner peace and balance of true love in Bali."

After reading the book I was a tiny bit (I promise only a little) dissapointed wth the movie. Even though they realy realy try, the message of the book doesn't fully come across. The story misses a few important parts (I know that's common for books made into film) which the viewer needs to know to follow Liz' actions. For example her despair of being in a marriage doesn't fully come across, so doesn't the divorce which where massive steps for her. I did like the characters though & Julia Roberts played Liz in a great way. Also the sceneries and places are really fantastic. I really like how the movie provides so many great messages for the viewer & a lot of inspiration & spirituality. I really recommend the move (even though it's a tiny bit off base). :)

4****

What I've learned...

I learned a lot the past 6 months. I learned, that people come and go. No one ever really stays but it is important to let them go, for everyone walks their path. Everyone’s on their own journey and I can’t expect them to hold just because I don’t want to let them go. Since I don’t want to be held back when I feel that I have to pack up and travel on. I learned that everyone I meet, every single person that walks my path, is there to teach me something. However small it may be. Every little lesson is adding up to the big picture.

I learned that falling in love can hurt you easier than expected. That it is important to guard your heart. I always knew that. But, I learned that guarding your heart, you should always leave a little extra door open, just in case someone special wants to visit. Guarding your heart without exception will only lead to confusion. I learned that if that special someone arrives, you should open up. Open up but not get lost in fancy dreams. Stay real and true to yourself, it is important to stay centred to have a clear view above the clouds.

I learned that sometimes you have to loose. That sometimes things you expected to be don’t come because it wouldn’t be right for you. Life leads you always the right ways, you have to trust. I learned to lose with trust. That when one door closes another one opens for you.

I learned that sometimes you have to let go. That clinging on things that don’t belong to you makes no sense. If you don’t choose by yourself to let go, it will be torn from you, which is way more painful. Things come and go. If the lesson is learned they move on, so should you. I learned to move on

Release and pain often go hand in hand, so I learned that pain is a friend. That pain can be a sign of a lesson learned and with tears comes the relief. So I also learned to cry. That crying is a cleansing of the soul

I learned to forgive, slowly but surely. I didn’t learn to forgive life though, for it hasn’t done anything to me. I learned to forgive myself. My mistakes are made by me in order to grow and learn. Sometimes you have to walk wrong paths to find the right one.

I learned to laugh and that every situation can be mastered. Every challenge can be won, by standing up and trying to see the aim and the lesson that might be behind all of this. That after all the misery it made me grow and become wiser, taller and better.

I learned that whatever might happen I will never lose my smile forever. That it always returns once the lesson is over. I learned that everything has a reason and I am never alone, even if it seems to be so.

But most of all, I learned to be myself and trust the person I am about to become, for she is wiser than I am today.