Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall: Who is the Prettiest of Them All?

Comedienne Amy Schumer's latest film I Feel Pretty showcases a woman's ongoing feelings of "insecurity and inadequacy." After a fall, Schumer's character wakes feeling that she is suddenly "the most beautiful" and confident "woman on the planet." The ironic thing is, Schumer's character's appearance NEVER CHANGED.

Actress Natalie Wood

In the 1957 musical West Side Story inspired by Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Maria, played by Actress Natalie Wood, sings the lyrics to the popular song I Feel Pretty, after she discovers she's in love with someone whom her family does not approve of.






Below, are some of the song's lyrics:

I feel pretty

Oh, so pretty

I feel pretty, and witty and gay

And I pity

Any girl who isn't me today ...

See the pretty girl in that mirror there:

Who can that attractive girl be?

Such a pretty face

Such a pretty dress

Such a pretty smile

Such a pretty me!

What makes you feel pretty? Is it a new outfit? A new relationship? Your positive outlook on life? When someone tells you that you are?

Everyone has different definitions of what "pretty" means. What is attractive to one may not be attractive to another.

No matter the ethnic background, body shape or size, nationality or heritage, know this: 
YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. YOU ARE PRETTY. YOU ARE WORTH IT. YOU ARE SPECIAL.

Do not rely on others' views of you to dictate what/how you think about yourself.  Find out what makes you unique and/or special and celebrate it! Share it with the world!

Like Maria of West Side Story, tell yourself, "I feel pretty, oh so pretty!" Do this daily until it sinks in. You may not always feel pretty - feeling insecure or inadequate at times, but that does not mean you are not!  The Bible tells us in Genesis 1:27 that we are made in the "image of God." That means you are not a mistake or an accident, nor are you junk! Everything about your appearance or personality was intentional and purposeful. When God created you, He was pleased (Genesis 1:31; Revelation 4:11)! 

We are all different and all beautiful!  It's time to rise up and know your worth! 
It's time to embrace who you are! 

Want to learn more about who you really are? Get your copy of I Am by Des Taylor on Amazon.com, BN.com and Booksamillion.com TODAY!

Women's History Month: Celebrate Your Womanhood!

Hillary Clinton. Reese Witherspoon. Joyce Meyer. Wendy Williams. Ida B. Wells-Barnett. Rosalind Brewer. Esther (in the Bible). Sonia Sotomayor. What do all of these women have in common? Other than being some of my favorite people in history (lol), these women were/are trailblazers in their own right! They are highly intelligent, resilient, courageous, witty, confident, and embraced their womanliness! Further, they are/were not afraid to speak their minds and stand up for what they believe(d) in.

Man! I Feel Like a Woman! made popular by Country music icon Shania Twain (also a personal favorite :-) is a song that epitomizes female empowerment. The catchy lyrics and infectious melody earned Shania crossover success - challenging women everywhere to be bold, to embrace femininity, and most importantly: to not be restrained by society's expectations of how a lady should think, feel or act.

One of my favorite lines from the song is, "I want to be free .. to feel the way I feel."  So many times as women we are bound emotionally and psychologically, not being able to express ourselves as individuals. Many of us have felt devalued or unimportant. As a result, we have become withdrawn or silent in so many ways.

In celebration of Women's History Month, I encourage you to embrace who you are as a woman! Do not be afraid to express your thoughts, to share your gifts and talents, and to "have a little fun" from time-to-time. Whether you are a daughter, friend, wife, sister, or mother, one thing is certain: YOU ARE WOMAN, so be proud of it!

Do not silence your voice, but instead empower and inspire others with it! Your voice matters and can/will make a difference in someone's life!

Remember: You are beautiful. You are strong. You are beloved. You are totally awesome!
It's time to show the world what you are truly made of! 

Want to learn more on how to discover the person you were always meant to be? Check out I AM  by Des Taylor on Amazon.com TODAY!
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Just Be You: Everyone Else Is Taken

Beloved Old Hollywood actress Judy Garland once told her daughter Liza Minnelli to, "Be a first-rate version of yourself and not a second-rate version of someone else."

The above statement remains one of my favorite life quotes. I've held these words near-and-dear to my heart most of my life, making a conscious decision to break the mold of what society says I should be. I've been determined to remain authentic to who I am. Of course, the journey hasn't been easy, but I'm appreciative of the process and the things I've learned along the way.

As women, we are expected to be a certain body type, fit a certain standard of beauty, and think a certain way. We are expected to be amiable, non-controversial, and go-with-the-flow so to speak. More times than not, when women express themselves in a way that goes against the status quo, they are ridiculed, criticized, or ostracized.

Women have so much to offer to the world - variant perspectives, intelligence, style, gifts and talents. Women add value to the world - excelling in academia, sports and other careers across a wide spectrum. We women can do anything we set our minds to -- and with excellence!

Ladies: Don't get discouraged when others put you in a box or expect you to be a "better version" of someone else. The truth is, you can't be. You can only be who you were born to be - authentic and uniquely you. Psalm 139:13-14 says it best:

"For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made"

There is simply no one like you - nor will there ever be! Find out who you are; embrace it; and make your mark on the world!

Make a daily, personal commitment to improve yourself and be 'first-rate' in all that you do! Don't waste your time trying to be someone else. The result will be exhaustion, disappointment, and unhappiness.
 Just be yourself. After all: "Everyone else is already taken."



Need motivation or encouragement? Check out I Am Des Taylor on Amazon.com, 
Books-A-Million, and Barnes & Noble!

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