My Barbie Moment by debgrant
I liked the scene in the Barbie movie where Barbie spoke to a stranger sitting on a bench and said, “You’re beautiful.” The woman responded, “Yes, I know it!"
I was in a restaurant for Christmas dinner. The table close by was filled with a motley group of people with one older woman who wore items of clothing that clashed in color including a pastel purple floppy hat and a Christmas sweater two sizes too small for her belly and tufted with what looked like red cotton balls for reindeer noses and an abundance of bling.
I immediately laughed at and thought critically of her attire. She was not “beautiful.” She worked her clothes to distract from her lack of beauty. That is what I thought until I realized she was me. I distract with my clothes sometimes(I like funky shoes and hats) and harshly judge the image in my mirror.
The woman and her party left while I was still eating and chewing on my judgment, my shallow definition of beauty.
The group of people who replaced the woman’s party came and settled in their seats. They were mostly young adults, 20-30ish, and two older people. None of them looked happy. They were physically more beautiful than the previous old woman - by the world’s standard - but they were somber or bored.
As I got up to leave the restaurant, I approached their table and told them. “You are all beautiful and Merry Christmas.” They smiled. A kind of shocked smile. I walked away.
I was smiling…a little like Barbie…as I walked away. I remembered that the old woman with the reindeer noses sweater was smiling too as she walked away.
Peace,
debgrant
This is something to strive for! Thanks!
I loved your little story. Thanks for helping me appreciate the way I am.