Hair Extensions, Veneers, Botox….

This isn’t to shame anyone, but I want to ask why? I turn on the news or a show or a movie or see email signatures at the bottom of work emails or even take a stroll through Costco and I am bombarded. I cannot tell what is real and what is paid for. Hair extensions seem to be as common and natural as putting on shoes. Those pearly whites are a vibrant bleached white. Wrinkles, what wrinkles? Of course it all comes at a price, one that not all can afford. So I ask why? Why do we do this to ourselves? We are all human, there is not an immortal among us. We all age just the same, some faster or slower than others but we will all get there. I’m not an extremist yelling at the corner of the street, “thou shall not wear make up or nail polish or highlight your hair! “ It just seems to me that so much emhphasis is being placed on a perfect, ageless appearance that it is discouraging and exhausting for the average woman. I will admit, I have looked in the mirror often and wished for fuller, thicker hair or spotless teeth. I have searched the internet for the ever-promising yet unfulfilling shampoos and conditioners. And even if I have a good hair day and I feel healthy and strong, I see the weather woman on tv and the storm begins to wage within me all over again. Yes, it is my struggle with comparison that I must take to the Lord. But I know that I am not alone in that struggle. And I just can’t help but wonder, if we all would allow ourselves to age naturally, what would it be like? Yes, be healthy, eat your veggies, exercise, get plenty of sleep, use your moisturizer, take care of yourself! But what if our focus was on being healthy versus perfect? What if we all had that motive? I bet we would all look a lot more similar and it would be a little less exhausting. Just a thought. Again, I’m not shaming anyone for having hair extensions or for getting veneers. But don’t be discouraged if age has blessed you with less than perfect features. We are all aging, wether it is seen or hidden. Be healthy and maybe focus on that.