Today, I got to think about what is important in life and what really counts.
We struggle each day to be accepted into communities and well-established groups, pouring ourselves and giving our best to really contribute in a meaningful way, however way we can.
I believe a person's behavior is a reflection not only of his or her outside beauty but mostly of how comfortable the person is in his or her own skin. That's why, regardless of how much you give, how much time you spend contributing to a cause, you shouldn't do it to fill a void. Never, ever. Because, this creates expectations that can never be really met.
Instead, know how much you can give and for how long, and that, regardless of the result.
This past week-end, I had a rather human reaction to a virtually unimportant situation. However, my emotions probably didn't feel that way. I was surrounded by much love, yet, the fact that I had expected some "friends" to be part of the whole experience were a no show, made the experience sweet and sour.
Needless to say, this is not at all an event I will probably remember in ten or fifteen years. Yet, now that I'm way past the (over) reaction, I realize how every experience helps in getting a person a boost to grow and be wiser.
My husband's birthday is coming soon. And we talked about what it meant for him to get older in terms of priority, of getting to do things that matter, taking time for family, nurturing ourselves, ... be as gorgeous as we can, and that, while fully respecting our integrity and Mother Nature.
This brings me to *beauty* and what it means to be and to live in beauty.
For years, I was obsessed with my beauty, with the impact it had on people. I would, along with some of my friends (who, now that I realize, were all drop dead gorgeous), go out in the City and count point on how many drinks we could get for free or how fast we would get a cab after a night in the town. I flirted a bit with modeling, did some stuff with bathing suits, nothing close to Heidi Klum (LOL) but I felt like I needed that recognition, as I never actually felt beautiful. So I did it a few times, and I like the attention; but there was something sour about it. Something devoid of depth.
I guess I was young!
Where am I? Oh yeah, new year = new concepts in my life.
Far away from my days at my very serious job, two beautiful daughters later, I now have found my true calling. I always wondered how I could merge my passion for beauty with my need for spirituality. And I found it in creating my own line of cosm'ethics Shreyas Ayurvedic Skincare, using the wisdom of Ayurveda, the great freedom of using aromatherapy, the ever-present use of the Energy of the Source and precious African home-grown ingredients. It's a small venture, working with family and other caring people. And I love it.
So, regardless of these little things that may bother me (and it is part of life), I have always tried to see what was the lesson to learn. As far as I am concerned, it is about always surrounding myself with people who share this philosophy of life and who would be there for me, just for a couple of minutes, taking the time and making me a priority, as I would do for them.
The others are just lovely people I get to share joyful moments sometimes but who, at the end of the day, will certainly not be there for me in case of .... And it is ok too.
