“Our vanity is the constant enemy of our dignity.”

-- Anne Sophie Swetchine

All of my life I have believed that I had to look good to get any of my wishes met. My charge cards reflected this and every month I would be faced with a large balance since I was constantly shopping for clothes to enhance how I looked. I also shopped to ward off any feelings of dissatisfaction with myself. It was an immediate high and gave me the confidence that I sorely lacked. But like any addiction, a one time fix is never enough and then there was the downside of having to pay all the high interest from my charges. But looking good was a constant and never ending challenge.

Forty came and it was time for a little cosmetic work, eyelids lifted, some collagen in that wrinkle between my eyebrows. I never questioned how many hours I had to work to pay for all of this. Heck, I never questioned my quest.

What am I doing all of this for? What do I want? I want to feel okay about myself without having to work so hard at it. When I asked these questions, I became more at peace with myself.

I am glad to let go of some of the chains of vanity. What you see, is what you get.

~ Judy Walden

“Even with all my wrinkles! I am beautiful!”

-- Bessie Delaney

This is an excerpt from Judy’s longer story posted on the women at heart site.