"I have already settled it for myself, so flattery and criticism go down the same drain and I am quite free." --Georgia O'Keeffe
Diet, exercise, and the pursuit of beauty are not the evils most people assume. So many of my bullies, since Kindergarten to this day, have been obese, very tall, or elderly. While these traits are NOT ugly, those individuals must have felt like monsters under a bridge, or over the hill, and I was a little sprite haunting their low self-esteem.
Many of my bullies rushed to get make overs after I confronted them and stood up for myself. Why? Because what they saw in the mirror was their own problem all along. If they had taken care of their own insecurities first, maybe they wouldn’t have targeted me. In fifth grade, my mother unknowingly gave my bully a makeover in the school nurse’s office and she was a different person after seeing herself in a new light.
At art events too many women walk up to me and immediately pick me apart physically instead of focusing on the artwork or atmosphere of the space. ‘How do you look so young’ or ‘how are you so skinny’ are the worst of the comments, but there are still remarks about my clothing and body. There are glares and stares or women tugging their husbands and children in the opposite direction of my booth. Because I am human, compliments or criticism of my clothing and body caught me off guard at art events, so I worked hard to gather together meaningful ads for the site and products for the shop. I hope these efforts will satisfy in people the need to over analyze my body and help them see me as someone who cares about the whole of them.
While making art is therapeutic, there are so many things that can help us feel good…dressing how we want, exercise, good food, or self-care. I think we should work on ourselves inside AND out because the outside is a reflection of the inside. Not for the pursuit of perfection, but to avoid becoming a self-loathing bully towards the people we envy. That's why I offer beautiful clothing, make-up and wellness products on this website for sale…to help you feel happy. As I share my art with the world, I want the focus to be a whole, happy experience for all involved. I want you to feel good about yourself so you can focus on looking at the art all around you. Ok? ok!
See the links at the bottom of this page or go to the PF Shoppe.
Have a Pleasant Day!
-Rae
