What do you think Eve looked like? Being the first woman in creation this must be the pinnacle of beauty, so seriously what do you think she looked like? In your mind's eye is she a blue-eyed blonde with flawless skin, a 'perfect' size 10 - 12 (UK) or an Amazonian beauty, powerful, athletic and a warrior? Perhaps she's Asian with sultry brown eyes the colour of dark chocolate, perfect white teeth and flowing locks of a deep navy black.
I've spent the last 10 years working with 16 - 19 year-olds, mainly girls, who invariably don't like the look of themselves, and this has become an increasing concern to me. They see the pictures in magazines of the beauties referred to above, and assume that they can't live up to their image. Of course we all know that these images are airbrushed but logic seems to be outweighed by the desire for perfection in our lives. Unfortunately it takes the most disciplined of us to be able to come even close to that perfection and often those ladies will be viewed as vain, obsessed, arrogant or suffering from some sort of mental illness such as anorexia, bulimia, body dysmorphia and so on. Either way, they receive little sympathy and much vitriol which can perpetuate their commitment to 'the look' that they want to achieve. This may sometimes then result in dissatisfaction, insecurities and self-loathing, but not always.
Who determines beauty? Who says what is beautiful? Without exception all of the young ladies that I've encountered over these years have had something beautiful about them. This may be the way that they reach out to someone who isn't as confident as themselves and offer help and support. It can be the way they entertain the class with amazing wit and humour but still manage to complete their work and progress well on the course and in their chosen career. For others it's the unseen, and unknown to their peers, but at home they are caring for a parent who is ill, bringing up their siblings, standing between an abuser and their brother or sister to prevent them being hurt, or battling quietly with demons not yet shared, but bubbling under the surface and needing to be told.
These young ladies are tall, short, overweight, slim, white, black, olive-skinned, shy, extrovert, funny, serious, gifted, struggling to do their best, kind and so amazingly beautiful that they have been my motivation to get up everyday to spend time with them. They have inspired me and taught me about, life, love and what's really important.
When we were created, we were created to be unique and different. We were also created to be in community with others. So the way that you look doesn't determine beauty. True beauty comes from within, it shines from a person through their actions and acts of kindness to others and can be found in the most troubled of people...even if that's only an occasional glimpse
When we are able to see ourselves as those close to us see us, and not through the eyes of the world, we come close to the mirror image of Eve who was created, whatever way she looked, to be unique and full of potential without limits. Eve was created through love and to be loved just as you were. So start believing and seeing yourself through the love, uniqueness and potential that you have. This is the day to start living without limits.....