The Good Stuff is in the Gray

I am excited to take a little break from the norm here on 30days for something powerful.  My friend Megan asked me to be a part of a beauty movement.   Colbie Caillat started it with her recent song and video called TRY.  Megan wanted to push this movement along and invited women from all over to share what they looked like without make up and I joined in! Colbie’s song says, “Take your make up off. Let your hair down… Look into the mirror at yourself, Do you like you? Cause I like you… “

Megan and her friend Cobi of Peacefrom6pieces have been the team behind this whole project. Their worldwide vision included creating their own video inspired by the song TRY. The talent of Robbins Creative made it possible for them to pull it off. You have to click play and see the beauty and bravery displayed and you might even recognize a few faces in there.

Me along with 101+ other blogging women from different backgrounds, religions, ethnicities, ages, shapes and sizes have decided to be Brave and Beautiful! You can join in this movement too by sharing what you look like without makeup on. You don’t need a blog either! Just tag your photo with #IamBraveAndBeautiful on Instgram and search the hashtag to see who else has joined in. ALSO, if you tag it with a second hashtag – #ColbieTRY we just might be able to get Colbie Caillat’s attention since she was the inspiration behind it all!

Are you brave and beautiful? I am, here I go!

This is me.  All gussied up at a blogging conference a couple of years ago.  My friend Angie took a few head shots that I was thrilled with.    It’s now outdated as I’ve changed my hair several times.  Lost weight, gained weight.  Added a few more wrinkles and gray hairs.  

This is what I look like most of the time. Except maybe with a ponytail and sweats.  It’s one of the perks of working from home.  One of the disadvantages is having nobody who can take a picture when I need them.  Selfie it is…

I’ve been an all or nothing kind of girl for as long as I can remember.  Things have always been right or wrong.  That makes little room for the middle, the gray.  As I’ve gotten older I’ve realized that the good is in the gray.   I don’t know if it’s because I’m an autism momma and don’t fit the “norm.”  Or if it’s because I desperately hate disappointing people but I fiercely want to do things on my own terms?  Or is it just that wisdom comes with age?  Maybe all of that.  What I do know is:

Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart. ~Khalil Gibran

Let’s reach inside the heart instead of focusing on what the rest of the world emphasizes in outward appearances.  We don’t have to try so hard to be something we’re not.  I’m going to do what’s best for me and you do what’s best for you.  That way we can learn and grow from each other instead of unrealized opportunities with misplaced judgment.  The girl at the mall with perfect hair, an amazing purse, exquisitely paired sunglasses and rocking that skirt?  She has things she is dealing with that nobody would ever know if they only glanced her way.  Just like the lady wearing sweats, a ponytail and flip flops chasing 7 kids at the playground that have mismatched outfits, scraggly hair, and dirt on their faces.  She has things she is dealing with that nobody would ever know if they glanced her way as well.  You do yours and I’ll do mine.  Somewhere finding the gray that we can come together on instead of focusing on the extremes of right or wrong, good or bad, black or white.

If you were to meet me, one day I might wear flip flops and jeans (okay most of the time) but on Sunday you’d see me dressed up in a skirt and wedges.  Both girls are me.  And if you could really see me for who I am, you’d come to know someone who is trying her hardest every day and failing a lot.  She is determined and stubborn- which has been a blessing and a curse.  She loves connecting with people and likes complimenting them and remembering important dates because she wants them to know that they are thought of and loved.  But she also can be closed down and puts up a wall when people are overly emotional.  She yells way too much, especially at her kids.  She wants to be an amazing mom yet she struggles every day with patience and understanding.  She wants to be a supportive wife but her selfishness gets in the way sometimes.  She wants her outward appearance to mean nothing but then her weight can sometime consume her thoughts.  She over analyzes everything, worries to the extreme and is anxious about way too many things.  She has struggled with depression but doesn’t talk about it because of the shame associated with it.  In spite of all of this, she knows that she is talented, kind and thoughtful.   She is hard working, loyal and honest.   She is of worth and loved.  And she continues to work on finding out who she is and who she wants to become.
She also hates when people talk in the 3rd person but somehow just managed to do an entire paragraph in that way…. 

If I were to see you for who you really are, what would I see? 

In case you feel the same and want a reminder.. you can download this 8×10 printable.  For personal use only.  Thanks! 

Don’t stop here. Get clicking around – its a blog hop! Below are more brave and beautiful women bearing more than their natural beauty. They each have a little bit of their heart to share with you. Some get very personal. Some share stories. For some this was very hard to do yet they gathered their courage and did it anyway. We hope as you click around (and YES pin these different posts!) you will feel the importance of it, the empowering effect it has and that it encourages you in some way.

>>>>>>>Important info! Blog Hops often have glitches the first day. If the link has an ERROR, simply click on the HOME button for each site, or google the blog name next to the link, and you should see their brave and beautiful post there. Links will be updated as soon as possible.<<<<<<<<<<<<

1. BrassyApple 2. Peace from 6 Pieces 3. Is this Really My Life 4. Among the Young 5. Love Me Dani Marie 6. Sweet Charli 7. Kim Orlandini 8. XO, Ashton Tilton 9. She Calls Me Mama Leisha 10. Raising Memories – Canada 11. A Little Tipsy 12. Amy Cornwell 13. A girl and a glue gun 14. My Craftily Ever After 15. Maybe I Will 16. WhipperBerry 17. Paging SuperMom 18. All Things Thrifty 19. Ashlee Marie 20. The Project Girl

21. One Little Momma 22. Entirely Eventful Day 23. Diary of a Brown Eyed Girl 24. Tips from a Typical Mom 25. Utah Sweet Savings 26. Flats to Flip Flops 27. One Krieger Chick 28. What Meegan Makes 29. Simply Kierste 30. Live to be Inspired 31. HoneyBear Lane 32. Pretty Providence 33. Ma Nouvelle Mode – in FRANCE 34. MomEntity 35. Serger Pepper – in ITALY 36. Kiki and Company 37. Girl Loves Glam 38. Thrive

39. The Potters Place 40. Crafting in the Rain 41. Cooking With Ruthie 42. Delineate Your Dwelling 43. The Pennington Point 44. Bakerette 45. The Happy Scraps 46. Shannon Baird Photography 47. Tried and Tasty 48. Lionesses at the Gate 49. Fry Sauce and Grits 50. Lolly Jane 51. That’s What Che Said 52. Sugar Bee Crafts 53. Your HomeBased Mom 54. Happiness is Homemade 55. The Crafted Sparrow 56. R&R Workshop 57. I Should Be Mopping the Floor 58. Sassy Steals

59. Let’s Eat Grandpa 60. Being Spiffy 61. Sumo’s Sweet Stuff 62. Ginger Snap Crafts 63. Bless This Mess 64. Apronista 65. Dreaming About Someday 66. Frenchie 67. Tastefully Frugal 68. Four Marrs and One Venus 69. Your Sister Circle 70. Over the Big Moon 71. See Vanessa Craft 72. Infarrantly Creative 73. Family StoryTelling

74. Albion Gould 75. Life as Mrs. Larson 76. Tried and True 77. Play.Party.Pin. 78. Bite of Delight 79. Ink Happi 80. ObSEUSSed 81. U Create 82. My Mommy Style 83. Find it Make it Love it 84. The Contractor Chronicles 85. Novae Clothing 86. Mommy Makes Things 87. At Home with Sweet T 88. We Like to Learn As We Go 89. House for Five 90. Organize and Decorate Everything 91. Sassy Southern Gurl 92. The Creative Mom 93. Keep Moving Forward with Me

94. The Benson Street 95. Mom 4 Real 96. Sowdering About 97. illistyle 98. The Crafty Blog Stalker 99. A Fiery Red Life 100. Cupcakes & Crowbars 101. One Sweet Appetite 102. My DayLights 103. Restless Risa

104. Sypsie Designs 105. Vintage Mother 106. Like Mother Like Daughter 107. 30 Handmade Days 108. Queen Bee and Me 109. Apples by Ashley 110. Boutique Cafe – in CANADA 111. Just My Little Mess 112. Bombshell Bling 113. Sarah Tyau 114. Taradara Make it 115. Capturing Joy 116. Ivory Lime Photography 117. Jenkins Kids Farm 118. Free Time Frolics 119. Bella Storia 120. Dana Ohlsen Photography

Ready in join in?Snap, hashtag and share! Tag @BrassyApple and @Peacefrom6Pieces if you can too!