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I’m flashy by nature. Everything I do is big and bold. I wear big earrings. Bright colors. I’m hardly ever seen without lipstick. No color in particular, but it is a must. I talk rather fast and loud. It’s just who I am. It’s my nature.
Last fall during a photo shoot something happened…A rare waking moment I was caught still and quiet. To my surprise, in that moment the photographer captured the very depth of me. “Pure Beauty,” “Simply Gorgeous,” “Intriguing,” “It’s just you. Beautiful,” were a few comments from my Facebook friends.
Because I’m a always thinking and blogging in my mind. The photo and comments have stayed with me. I see so many women half naked exposing themselves, wearing lots of make-up, lots of jewelry and spending tons of money on beauty products, and things to enhance their beauty. I’m guilty of some of those things as well. So, this photo of me speaks volumes to me and hopefully to you. Ladies, we don’t have to take off our clothes and expose ourselves. Nor do we have to overly dress ourselves up. Beauty is often subtle. Beauty is when we show our vulnerabilities. Beauty lies within our souls and speaks through our eyes.
*Mind you I was wearing make-up in this photo. And so that no one calls me a hypocrite, I will continue to wear make-up and big earrings. But, the point is it’s nice to know that I don’t need to.
Chrisetta Mosley
I am a product – and now a survivor – of childhood obesity. As a child, my family always told me that my extra weight was merely baby fat and I’d eventually grow out of it. I never did. Instead, my childhood is filled with memories of not being able to ride a bike, flattening its training wheels from being over the recommended weight, and avoiding P.E. classes by any means necessary. For years, I wore my fatness like a wounded soldier wears a Purple Heart - with pride. I owned the look. I dressed it up. I worked the room. There wasn't a skinny girl who intimidated me. I made sure my hair was laid just right. Nails polished. Outfits coordinated to the tee. Accessories to compliment every outfit. But everyone has a breaking point, and mine came in the spring of 2004 when I tipped the scale at nearly 400 pounds 388 to be exact. I was MISERABLE trapped inside of that body. I no longer wore my Purple Heart with pride. Rather, I was ashamed and frightened. Ashamed that I had allowed food to become my everything – frightened I would die because of it. Drastic times called for drastic measures... Today, I’m bound and determined to live a better, healthier, active lifestyle. I realize I’m no longer a passenger in my life, I’m the driver. I’m overcoming my inhibitions and I’m slowly but surely saying farewell to my old childhood nemesis, obesity. For once and for all, Farewell Fatso!