Tour of Beauty

I’ve been contemplating our Authentic Beauty and Positive Posting page marveling at how taking a risk with an open heart can become a leap and also wondering how to proceed from here.

My intention in creating our page is to support a forum for the kind of conversation present in the room of Blogher ’08’s Beautiful Blogging and Positing Posting.  I’m imagining us as a virtual circle with each blog contributing a voice, a perspective about life that can inspire conversations amongst and within each of our blogs (because that’s what blogging can be, yes?).  And so with that thought, I decided to take a tour, and dive into what’s been brewing.

Chani is traveling through poverty and homelessness.  I so appreciate the conversations Chani is able to initiate and engage (if you follow homelessness you’ll find heart and insight at Jen’s place in general and especially via slouching mama’s guest post on her experience with homelessness at SF Blogher.

Red Stapler touched me with her post on prayer and Amy at Beauty Dialogues is contemplating slow community.  I’m still savoring Lucrecer’s quote for last weekend along with her earth art and for more beauty in nature see Notes from the ‘Kan E’wa (love the vase!).  Happy Luau relays a question that helps us reflect on how we use, and waste, our own energy while Krystyn is sharing some growing pains of her own.  Sage shares beautiful shifts in perception as she prepares to become a mother (and also a funny spin on Your New Huge Size).  Grace is remembering herself as she explores fairytales and mermaids.

I’m still chewing on a post from Defiant Muse that’s over at Chani’s on post-feminism, women and mothering.  I grew up surrounded by feminist women who evoked and then celebrated my female power.  I find exhileration in supporting other women, probably why I loved being a birth Doula.  When I’ve encountered women (or people) who need to put others down to elevate themselves, my response was more surprise than anger. 

Until I became a mom to a daughter.  I’ll never forget witnessing the trials and tribulations of girl friendship in my daughter’s KINDERGARTEN class.  She has access to the same support of strong women as me–in fact our female center has only grown.  And at almost 13, she is remaining herself amidst teenage needs for independence but it’s a tricky trail to travel.  I feel like she is inundated with constant messages of objectification, competition over compassion and consumerism.  Just listening to her music brings out my mama bear (one song title is “Like a Lollipop”–need I say more?).  I want to stomp and growl and take her (and my son) to an isolated cave until she is less permeable and more solid in herself.

A long time ago I had a dream that some troubled adolescent boys were circling around my house.  A dear friend was with me (in the dream) and suggested we lock the door.  Instead, I invited them to sit at the kitchen table to find out what was going on and why.  I don’t believe in shutting out mainstream culture, but instead inviting it to the table for questioning. But there are moments…

I’m so grateful I’ve been able to discover some of what is happening with you.  Please feel free to share what’s moving you; a post of your own or perhaps someone else’s.  Also, please remember, anyone is welcome to join our page of Authentic Beauty and Positive Posting.  Just go over and leave a link or post and I’ll add you to our circle.

Have a great day (btw, it’s my birthday today, 39 years old!).

Explore posts in the same categories: Everyday moments

Tags: art, authentic beauty, conversation, feminism, gratitude, life, mothering, photos, Positive Posting

You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.