Community and Beauty

For Reverb 10:

December 7 – Community.  Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010?  What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011?  

I joined the community of mothers/parents.  I tend to prefer not to separate the categories of "mother" and "parent" but I will admit that I have felt a special connection with other mothers this year.  It's definitely deepened my relationship with my sister (who has two children).  And there are times I just feel this connection take over my face.  The look I give a woman with a baby or struggling toddler at the store just feels different now, like the muscles of my face have the ability to emote more/better empathy that they did before.  I always felt bad for the mother/parent with the screaming baby at the store, but now I just really feel it in my heart.  Literally, I feel a tug in my chest now when I see that familiar scene.  I definitely feel like I've gained entry to a club of sorts.

The community I miss the most is the writing/poetry/publishing world.  I'm dying to attend a poetry reading or the release of a poetry journal.  Maybe in 2011 I'll find a night to do that.

December 8 - Beautifully different. Think about what makes you different and what you do that lights people up. Reflect on all the things that make you different - you'll find they're what make you beautiful.

This prompt was contributed by one of my very favorite bloggers, Karen Walrond of Chookooloonks, whose book, The Beauty of Different: Observations of a Confident Misfit, is on my not-really-real Christmas list.  (If I get a Barnes and Noble gift card for Christmas, it's the book I'm buying with it.)  I've really changed my thoughts on beauty this year by really reading and thinking about the things Karen writes.

When she recently asked, "What makes you beautiful?" I responded that I'm beautiful because my husband tells me so every day and I believe him.  I don't make excuses or contradict him (usually) and instead just say thank you.  Sure, I have my off days - days where a shirt doesn't fit right and I feel fat because of it.  But, now, I do look at the shirt and say, "Okay, it's the shirt.  I haven't changed so it's not me."  I think it takes many people, especially women, a while to get to that point and it feels really good to be here.

My unique (hubby would say "lack of") sense of humor makes me different.  My inclination to love "depressing" music over anything else makes me different.  And, I'd venture to say that these two things are related.  I was a sensitive, slightly outcast, outsider-looking-in, introspective teenager and those years still resonate so strongly with who I am and continue to be.

My past makes me different and makes me beautiful because it's created how I see and enjoy the world.

Comments

[Kyra]

I would love to do the same (have coffee and chat)! I think we may have to next time I’m in the Rutherford area (and it’s not a holiday). I just watched Sex & the City 2 last night. It was horrible but there was a mom scene that I loved. Did you see it?