The Tragedy of Nude Lips

 

Skin is comfortable. It fits all nice and snug, careful to keep your inners from peeking out. If it’s taken care of it can be smooth and healthy, but those pesky dry spots rarely leave us be. Some skins wrap you in little dots we call freckles. Many show cuts or mysterious bruises or permanently tattooed trophies of accidents gone wrong.

Skin is skin. It’s yours. You didn’t get to pick it out; it picked
you. It’s a casing for interesting ideas, dreams, beliefs. It’s a walking aquarium that holds all of these beautiful exotic fish. Some fish flaunt their long flowing fins, others hide behind plastic coral and miniature caves. They’re unique and pretty and interesting but remain hidden deep within the flesh layers. Why? They’ve got it going on; why not swim around so we all can see you?

I like my skin. I like the fish swimming inside of it. It’s cool, and comfortable, and my own, and I get to make the call which little Nemos are rising from the pebble floor and showing off next to the glass.

But here’s the thing, I hate those little squirrely fish. Okay, I secretly love them, but I hate that they’re frightened. Squirrely fish don’t worry, empowerment will come.

So what are these fish? Well…dreams. They’re dreams. Why do we let our dreams hide out because of fear? Fear is so ugly and fosters an environment of perpetual vulnerability. You want to start a business but you’re scared of putting your idea out there. It makes you vulnerable instead of empowered. How about this: You have a desire to create a product, or write a book, or get a new job, or blah blah blah, but society makes you nervous of being shut down. The ugliness that is negative feedback can make someone’s dreams burn. Why even try because everyone is going to think it’s stupid. Unless that Plexiglas skin is strong, the ego inside can get bruised but quick.

 

Can I take this a different direction?

I love the quote by Elizabeth Taylor that says, “…Put on some lipstick and pull yourself together.” Do you ever slather on some lipstick and you suddenly feel like you can conquer absolutely anything? Maybe it’s not lipstick for you; maybe it’s makeup, a killer outfit, a new hairstyle. What is it that gives you the sensation that you’re being filled up from your gut with power that threatens to seize you? It feels way to good, and it affects the way you portray yourself to this judgmental world.

Suddenly the fear you harbored about putting your ideas or talents out to the public seems insignificant. What if we felt like this all the time? What if those little fish got their time next to the glass?

I’m not saying that placing your Betta fish front and center won’t prevent little tikes from smudging their fingers on the glass and freaking you out of your scales. And I’m not saying that your lipstick won’t fade. It will, and whenever you put yourself in a position of vulnerability you run the risk of criticism. But you can absorb that feedback easier when you realize your worth and the worth of your idea.

Go for it! Harness enthusiasm and work towards the goals that sear inside of you.

So grab a red tube and don’t forget to use your lip liner. Keep them in your purse and apply when needed. Work hard to get those fish circulating. There is nothing that can stop you, just yourself, so grind relentlessly until you get what you want. And pray, always pray.

And fellas, you aren’t applying lipstick, but find your masculine equivalent. Cologne? A tailored suit? A swanky watch? Grapple that goal to the ground! Start today.

 

“She has a way with words, red lipstick, and making an entrance.”

                                                            -Kate Spade