Go Girl ~ September

“There’s no better makeup than self-confidence.”

~Shakira
(Singer/Songwriter)

I LOVE the thought and picture for the Go Girl Calendar for September. I have been very blessed to have self-confidence. I attribute a lot of that to my height. As a child, I was only in kindergarten for a few weeks before my teacher had me test out of it and I was moved up to 1st grade. My parents and teachers were worried that I might be picked on by the older kids, but I was taller than all of them, so I was never picked on and it was never an issue.

I remember the summer before 9th grade that all my classmates were worried about the first day of High School and being “hazed” or “initiated” by the upper classmen. However, no one ever even approached me, b/c they probably thought I was a Junior instead of a Freshman. For my Senior class pictures, I was the ONLY girl on the back row w/ all of the 6’ tall or taller guys!

I have also never been a girl to wear makeup. I wasn’t allowed to wear makeup until I was 14. I remember when I was 12 that a friend and I bought some makeup a the Dollar Store (LOL) and I wore just a tiny bit and didn’t think my Mom would notice, but she did. When I was finally 14 and was allowed to wear makeup, I didn’t want to anymore. I never learned how to put it on and it was too expensive. So, I only wear some blush and mascara and lipstick on special occasions like family pictures.

I’ve always been a big person in both height and weight. Of course I wish that I were a little bit thinner and there are things I would change about my body and the way I look if I could. But, I am generally happy w/ how I look. I am thankful for great parents who I attribute a lot of my self-confidence to. I know that so many young women today struggle w/ self-confidence, and I hope to instill in Autumn the self-confidence that she will need to make it through this life. I hope that she will have a strong self-image but at the same time be able to be loving and kind to others around her and make them feel good about themselves, too.

The lesson in Relief Society today was given by one of the Presidency, so she could pick whatever topic she wanted to talk on. She talked about individual worth and read talks and quotes about women and how wonderful we are and how important we are. It was excellent and very touching. Then she handed out a letter to everyone w/ kind things that other women in the ward had said about them (she had sent out an email on Friday asking everyone to email her words and thoughts about the other women in the ward). I am always thankful for the great and wonderful women in my life. I have been blessed w/ such great examples of confident, courageous, and caring women.