Being scared to try new things is ridiculous.

This is what I learned from my cat today: being scared to try new things is ridiculous. Here is the whole story:
I got this beautiful tabby, Bengal mix named Sahara. She's orange, about 2 and just cuddly. I like her a lot and she's helped me when the nights got too lonely to handle. But, like my roommates have said, I was worried she was getting too lazy and fat. So, I made the brilliant decision to buy her a collar and leash so I could go outside and relax and she could come too and I wouldn't worry about her running a muck and getting gobbled up by a Rottweiler while I looked on helplessly.
Well, I got her blingin' fantastic collar and leash to match and tried to get her to go outside but she seemed reluctant. I picked her up and carried her outside and she was FREAKING OUT; ridiculously afraid of a beautiful meadow of grassy paradise bathed in sunlight. I'm not that big of a fan of nature unless it's the ocean, but I was ready to relax and enjoy the moment.
Out of my love and genuine desire to help her connect with the outdoors, I remained outside with her puffy-self and tried to coax her into chill-axing but nothing doing. She was a spaz. In the end, I decided alright, enough torture, lets get you inside.
If I had thought she wasn't happy outside, I nearly passed out at the amount of strength that small hairball put into her fight trying to get inside again! Yowling, vainly scratching the air and going nearly exorcist on me, I finally got her back in my apartment and promptly opened a can of the good stuff (wet cat food reserved for emergencies) and let her unwind.
So, the next time I'm feeling worried about the unknown, I'm going to remember Sahara and the ridiculousness of the situation. New things can be fun and enjoyable. Don't fight it, just accept it and have fun! Don't become a pussy-cat :).

There is no cosmetic for beauty like happiness. ~Lady Blessington

There is no cosmetic for beauty like happiness. ~Lady Blessington

I have no idea who Lady Blessington is, but I agree wholeheartedly with her. Difficult times come and difficult times go and in the moment it's not fun. Sometimes it seems like no matter how much time you spend in front of the mirror applying makeup, fixing your hair, giving up and getting a haircut, or buying new clothes; if you aren't happy on the inside nothing you do on the outside will make you feel any more beautiful.
Beauty is a gift, but it's not a single type of gift or a single type of look. What am I talking about? There are so many types of beauty. Beauty is not defined soley by the leaders in fashion or by "the-eye-of-the-beholder". Beauty can be in anything and no, you don't have to search for it. It's a state of being more than anything. It could also be defined as a light shining through the very being of the person.
Think about it, the last person you saw that you though, wow, they are truly beautiful (not necessarily in those exact those words of course, those are my words). Were they coming at you from the page of a magazine, completely re-made and only having a slight resemblance to actual humans? Or was it a person you see walking down the street who has a slight smile, somewhat peaceful countenance and just emanated calm? Or the man who is smiling widely while listening to his son or daughter talk about their day?
I'm sitting here at this very moment in a laundry mat watching families, singles and a mix of the two do a task that is unavoidable and mostly annoying..laundry. There are women, men and children and my favorite are those moments when the moms and teenage daughters smile and laugh with each other. They are so beautiful! Can't they see it? Can't they see how wonderful and special they are?
Laundry isn't the worlds most glamorous chore for sure, but you really can't do much else while you are here. Even the most stressed and pressed for time people are forced to stop and wait while the soap and water do their duty. These few precious minutes, an hour tops if you are me, could be considered a time to stop and reflect and observe.
I am forever grateful for the beautiful people in my life. Their influence and love have been obvious my entire growing up years. Just the opportunity to spend time with them and watch them in their beautiful ways, living their lives is enough for me to realize how very lucky and blessed I am.
The next time you feel the overpowering need to buy a new outfit or change something about your appearance because you just don't feel beautiful, stop and look deeper. Why don't you feel beautiful? Most likely it will be sometime more than just your makeup.

There is no cosmetic for beauty like happiness. ~Lady Blessington