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Whether it's that line of kohl that makes you feel like a million bucks, or your most loved pyjamas, do what makes you feel good about yourself. Take a minute to admire yourself - and head out to slay the world!
Whether it’s that line of kohl that makes you feel like a million bucks, or your most loved pyjamas, do what makes you feel good about yourself. Take a minute to admire yourself – and head out to slay the world!
3 years back, when I was 5 months pregnant, kaftans became my best friends. I used to sleep, cook, walk and even shop from the society vendor in the same dress. I experimented with many looks but nothing was as comfortable as a kaftan with that big baby bump! I was always at the receiving end of stares from the aunties in the neighbourhood and security guards, who thought that I wasn’t dressed properly enough to step out from my home. Frankly speaking, back then it never bothered me because that was the only way my baby bump and I were comfortable.
After delivering my baby, I still looked 3 months pregnant. I switched to pyjamas and since then, they have continued to hang on me from January to December, 7 days a week and 24 hours a day, except the loo time! I used to tie a messy bun, put on a shrug and move out to buy groceries. I was always unkempt and I knew that. Blame the postpartum, new responsibilities or fatigue of managing a colicky baby, I never had time to pay attention to my looks.
So once my baby was almost a year old in 2017, I took a new year resolution ‘To deck up before pack up from bed’. For a few days, I made conscious efforts towards combing my hair once out of bed and putting on basic kajal, bb cream and lip gloss after a bath. But soon I realised that it doesn’t come easy. Once, I was applying kajal when my son slipped with the lipstick. I chased him and stumbled on a Lego. Sat down to soothe that poor little toe which gets hurt the most. Got water for myself and realised that it’s time to feed the baby. I fed the baby, put him to sleep, arranged the house and clothes, cooked lunch and made a list of groceries. In the evening I strapped my son in his stroller and went to the supermarket in the same pyjamas and messy bun because, I didn’t have the time!
However, I was glad that I had managed to apply 12hr smudge proof kajal in the morning. It was only after an ugly confrontation with myself in the slim mirror between the shelves, I realised that my right eye had been waiting to be lined dark. #FacePalm. I was better off without a kajal.
I was still trying to come to terms with this blooper when my eyes chanced upon the yummy mommy next door. She had clearly spotted me amongst the swarm of people. I turned a blind eye to her and slipped into another section. Little did I know that I would find her there before me! We briskly exchanged greetings before wrapping up the shopping. Trust me, I had to shop more but I was in no mood to walk down with that lady. The 5’ 8” tall lady in me never felt so little and discomposed before. The moment I got back home, I jumped in front of the full-length dressing table mirror and realised – ‘If only I had done this before leaving the house!’
So ladies, this new year I took a resolution to – “Take a second to look at myself in the mirror before I start the day or leave the house.” I realised that the pyjamas didn’t make me as uncomfortable as the half applied kohl did. It is not important to step out of home with smokey eyes and the contouring well done. Not all LV bags grab eyeballs and not all Gucci shoes turn people green. It is only your confidence that leaves an everlasting mark on others. And who doesn’t want that!
So next time you are moving out of your home, pause your fast-paced life for a moment and have a look at yourself from top to toe. If you think you are fine and comfortable in the pjs, then move on and if not, then please change into something that makes you confident. So now, I move out in the same pyjamas with hair well done and a lil kohl and I feel no less. I can confidently glide through the society hoping to chance upon a familiar face. And I personally know people who look straight out of bed and yet brim with confidence because they are comfortable in their own skin. I also know people who cannot even think of facing others without the hair spray or the makeup. For some just the right shoes matter, or the right hairdo or a nice blazer, or just nothing at all. They can move out in rugged jeans and a borrowed t-shirt and yet slay the world.
What is important is that you should be on great terms with your own self. You should be aware of what you look like and should not end up stealing glances at your acquaintances in public places. You should not end up hiding behind the shelves in supermarkets or rushing to the loo in restaurants to avoid those familiar faces.
Trust me, the world won’t end if you spare those two minutes adoring yourself in front of the mirror. Your hubby can wait for five more minutes in the car honking at the door, your shopping can wait, your tummy can bear five minutes of extra hunger and even your kids will grow up to wait. What will not wait is the time and the moment you lost in the guilt of not looking good. This guilt will become a part of your personality and overshadow your confidence big time. Figure out what’s that one thing that matters to you the most and boosts up your confidence.
Image via Unsplash
First published here.
I am a mother of a baby boy, a management graduate and a multi-faceted professional mom making home a sweeter place to live in. read more...
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UP Boards Topper Prachi Nigam was trolled on social media for her facial hair; our obsession with appearance is harsh on young minds.
Prachi Nigam’s photo has been doing the rounds on social media for the right reasons. Well, scratch that- I wish the above statement were true. This 15-year-old girl should ideally be revelling in her spectacular achievement of scoring a whopping 98.05% and topping her tenth-grade boards. But oddly enough, along with her marks, it’s something else that garners more attention – her facial hair.
While the trolls are driving themselves giddy by mocking this girl who hasn’t even completed her school yet, the ones who are taking her side are going one step ahead – they are sharing her photoshopped pictures, sans the facial hair, looking nothing less than a celebrity with captions saying – “Prachi Nigam, ten years later”.
Doctors have already diagnosed her with PCOD in their comments, based on photographic evidence. While we have names for people shamed for their weight – body shaming, for their skin colour- racism, for their age- age shaming, for being a female- sexism, this category of shaming where one faces criticism for their appearance has no name. With that, it also has zero shame attached to it.
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