Beautiful Women

...

HollyGL recently asked who we all thought of as being beautiful. At the time I hadn't a clue, but this morning I realised I can finally answer this question. I know so many beautiful women.. the list is endless, but for today I am dedicating this to the five who took my breath away this week.

This morning I discovered a good friend has taken a big step forward in her life. No, change that.. a LEAP Forward. She is in the process of claiming back her life and her power. Taking a step towards a wholeness she has never experienced in her entire life. I am so proud to know a woman as courageous as her. She has experienced a childhood from hell and yet never lost her humanity, humour.. or ability to love.

She is so beautiful.


Last weekend I was at my mother-in-law's house. She's in her 80s now and we got to talking about life.. and death. She has plans for her death and she needed to talk about them. She needs to feel certain that all of her family know how much she loves them before it is too late. We sat on the couch with our arms around each other and she talked and said all she needed to say.

She is so beautiful.


This Monday I went shopping. Later today I go to my citizenship ceremony and I needed shoes and a new outfit. So on Monday I went shopping with my mom. I was trying on a blouse and needed a second opinion. I peeked out the changing rooms - trying to find her. The shop was crowded and at first I couldn't see her. Then I saw this woman walking towards me. Walking with such grace.. even though she walks with crutches and has osteoporosis. She was smiling at another shopper and I realised how she GLOWS. As bright as a star. Walking and standing is almost always painful for her and yet she is always smiling and graceful.. and gracious.

She is so beautiful.


I have another friend who contacted me this week with email apologies. She had done something impulsively and feared it would hurt my feelings. It was such a silly little thing that I wanted to laugh.. but to her it was big because she loves me and never wants to cause me pain. She cares so much about our friendship that she worked herself into a panic over a tiny little act of impulse. This is the kind of woman she is - She can be moody and snappy and as human and flawed as we all are, and yet she has this heart as big as a planet and such a tenderness of spirit.

She is so beautiful.


I have a family member with cancer. This is not her first time. She has been here before. She has fought this battle.. and won. Now once again she faces the same old demons. Never once does she complain about the unfairness of life or show any signs of self pity. She is fighting this battle with humour and determination and such grace of spirit.

She is so beautiful.