Why I Wear Red Lipstick?

Red  is classic. But it can be scary.  It’’s a statement.
I’ve had full lips before Kim Kardashian made them hot. My father always said that my lips were too big. As I became older, he vocally discouraged me from wearing lipstick.  Naturally, I was always self conscious of them, never appreciated them.

lIn my journey to loving myself - my physical self - my lips were one of the hold outs. But, this is the only body I have. Why be at war with it?  I step by step took myself on a journey of love and not only acceptance, but celebration.  

First step wear noticeable lipstick - not nude.  Once I got comfortable wearing lipstick, I challenged myself to wear red lipstick for an entire winter.   At first I was incredibly self conscious.  I felt that everyone was looking at my lips with the same judgement as my father.  I felt like they stood out like a sore thumb.  In my head, I expected people to ask why are you wearing that?  Even shopping for the lipstick was traumatic - focused attention on the part of me with which I was most uncomfortable. 
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No one ever said anything negative.

Key: most of our self criticism is all in our head.  That part of you you hate is only noticed by you most of the time.  We are our worst critics.  

Over the course of the winter, I grew to accept my lips and love them.

Ironically when I switched up the color in the spring, my Bar teacher in Summit saw me, stopped, and asked “What’s up? Where’s the red lipstick?”  

Stunned.

I am not suggesting that you look outside for all your affirmation, but sometimes God uses people to reflect the truth. I realized that the world wasn’t seeing it as I was - it was probable my dad was wrong and I was wrong.  It was possible that my lips were perfect for red lipstick.

I share this because I want each and every woman to totally embrace herself. And often the part of you that you reject, under appreciate, or think isn’t acceptable; is actually, in reality amazingly beautiful and hot, if you dare to believe it.

Now I almost always wear red lipstick as a reminder to myself to treasure every part of me.  Let me know what you want to embrace in you.

love,
julia​