An Ode to Make-up during a Pandemic

With age, I've learned to appreciate my appearance and to appreciate the beauty in everyone I see. I think that's just a normal part of growing up and unlearning the unhealthy messages that I wouldn't want to perpetuate. 

I credit part of that to being an educator and seeing how the most wonderful kids see themselves poorly and how false that narrative is. I also credit that to a world that, luckily, is evolving. 

 And, mostly, I recognize that people don't like others because of appearance. It's a simple concept really but it's true. People who are conventionally beautiful struggle in relationships too, whether that is due to chemistry or their unkindness and vice versa. People who are conventionally not what society thinks of as beautiful often have the most wonderful relationships. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter.

 So I'm often pretty chill about it and I don't expect reactions to my appearance from others. 

But, I've been wearing heels and red lips since I was a kid. For me, it brings a little zest and joy to the ordinary. It's fun to take a picture in bright colors. It's fun to have a pink cheek. It's fun to blow your hair out because life is so busy yet mundane often. It's nice to perk up in a little purple jumpsuit. In this really unsteady moment, there is a lot of things to miss but one of them for me is the joy of that art, of that transformation.

 I grew up in Maine so people were very bland with their clothing and Boston is very similar in that sense where people shy away from expressing themselves so it was always nice to feel like the brave one. It's always nice to grow out my nails, really long and sharp and paint them either bright pink or silver and feel like an absolute queen. In the summer, they would never break and people were astonished which was super funny to see.

 Sometimes I put on a nude lip and slight blush but I don't wear make-up now because there's nowhere to go. I don't wear my little skirts or my 5 inch shoes because America is closed down with this pandemic.  I don't contour or make my face look like what it's not supposed to but I think of dressing up, wearing a little make-up and going outside a little like I think of exercise, not every day, not all the time but when I do it on occasion, I feel a little new and no one knows but me. It's a nice thing I do for me.

It's a new world. I love the way my body changes. I love my bare face. I'm starting to grow white hair and have very faint lines around my mouth. And all of that is ok and is part of the natural and wonderful human experience.

I hope soon the world opens up again and people can go outside with a little color on their faces and a little joy in their hearts.