Tag: inspiration

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What is Beauty?

Above photo by Annika Photography


You. Are Beautiful.

Look in the mirror. Repeat these words, “I am beautiful.”

You are drop-dead gorgeous. You are radiant. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Beauty is being enough. You. Are enough.

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What is Beauty?

I am faced with this question every day. I see myself transformed for the sake of beauty. Images that hardly even resemble me after all the makeup, light, and photoshop.

Who says this is “beautiful”? Who says heels are sexy? Who are they to tell us what we should or shouldn’t look like, and decide what is beautiful? They are no one.

If there’s one takeaway from my experience as a model, it would be that the fashion industry can be a very negative environment, filled with girls who are constantly being molded into an unrealistic beauty standard.

Do me a favor? Are you still looking in the mirror? Of course you’re not, you’re on your phone, or computer. Look at the reflection in your screen. Better yet, take a selfie, and smile. No. Really smile. Revel in the beautiful nature that is you. That smile is gold.

I know that beauty is more than what it seems. It takes time to train your mind to look beyond the traditional beauty standard. To look beyond the makeup, the hairspray, the Prada, and this or that.

It’s hard to escape, but I feel so strongly in my convictions that each and every one of you have this vast, astounding beauty, that I’ve set out on this mission to spread awareness of this beauty.

You don’t need makeup or fancy clothes. The most beautiful thing you can do is to be you. The most beautiful thing is joyousness and another human’s smile. Beauty is insight and health. No amount of “enhancements” can put you in that kind of place.

What is beauty?
Flaws – Imperfection – Honesty – Life – Humaness – Spontaneity – Laughter – Eyes – Mouth – Ears – Thigh gaps – NO thigh gaps – Curvy – Skinny – Freckles – Teeth
YOU.

Damnit, you ARE beauty.

Be Fierce!!
Briauna Mariah (:

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Finding Inspiration

This Bold Life and I have this on again, off again relationship. I had set a goal of 2 blog posts per week for you guys months back. Consistent information, updates, and experiences shared with you. However, the really good stuff only comes sporadically. That’s what it’s like to be a writer. I must write when the words start flowing.

Like writing, sometimes inspiration is hard to find.

But when you find it, it’s quite magical.

Inspiration isn’t, ‘oh, what a pretty dress,’ or ‘this is beautiful, I love this.’ Inspiration is moving. Literally. Really good inspiration gets your gears working, clicking into place, and suddenly, you’re up and replying, feeding off that inspiration.

Inspiration comes from another human’s boldness, courage, determination, hard work, and beautiful results and realizations. Inspiration is when you are a photographer who instills confidence in your subjects every day and, upon braving out the commitment to being the one in front of the camera, realize something deep, realizing, “That’s me, that’s beautiful, I’m beautiful!” (Read about Dana Kae’s profound, beautiful experience here). Inspiration is health and joy, like a woman staying fit for 22 years, not in it for the results, but for the wonderful feeling of being healthy. (This is Laura’s lifestyle, who shares her journey here).

These days, my main form of inspiration is through social media. There are so many stories to be shared and heard. If you know where to look, the options are endless. In my search for inspiration, here are just a few of my finds. Continue reading “Finding Inspiration”

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Participating in Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure

I have to say, sleeping in a bed the night after walking for Susan G. Komen never felt so warm and comfy and GOOD.

For those of you who do not know, I was a Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure participant for Seattle 2011. This was my first walk for breast cancer. I also participated in Arlington Relay for Life 2011, but that wasn’t nearly as physically demanding.

It started at Qwest field in Seattle. We were all pumped up with motivational speaking and upbeat music. I’m sure you could have heard us from miles away. There was no missing this event, especially once we started, creating a long trail of pink among the streets of Seattle, Redmond, Bellevue, and back to Seattle.

Susan G. Komen 3 day is a huge non-profit organization to raise money to fight breast cancer. It was started on a promise to a sister to do everything possible to get rid of breast cancer. So many people are affected by breast cancer. My mom was diagnosed in 2009 and she’s a survivor. So is my aunt. Each participant raised at least $2,300 and then proceeded to walk 60 miles in 3 days. Continue reading “Participating in Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure”

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Portland, New York Fashion: Ready or Not, Here I Come!

Public transportation. Gotta love it. Some people cringe at the thought of having to ride the public transit. I decide instead to embrace it. So many good things have come to me through riding the bus. There is always someone who has something to say. Always that one really interesting person. You don’t get that in a car. Once you ride public transit enough, you begin to realize it is its own little community. You save money too! Gas prices are getting ridiculous.

I was late for the bus and debating my different parking options. I wasn’t sure I was going to make it in time. I was on my way to help a friend of the family for the day at her shoe store. I veer into the senior center parking lot, grab my bag, and slam the door just as the bus was getting ready to leave. Sometimes I wonder at how observant the public transit bus drivers are. The man obviously saw my car frantically pulling in (or did he?), but he began to leave the station anyways and I appeared just in time.

I thank the man for waiting for me to board and take a seat.

“Are you a model?” A woman asks just as I am getting settled. I’m always extremely flattered and sometimes a little surprised when people ask me that, especially when I have absolutely no hair product or makeup on. Continue reading “Portland, New York Fashion: Ready or Not, Here I Come!”