Hey guys,
I’ve been having a really rough few days.
I wish I could claim to be perpetually happy like those crazy people you see in shampoo commercials — you know, the girls who smile and skip through sun dappled fields as the winds of change blow through their perfect hair. They twirl and throw their arms up and glow like fantastical beams of light and optimism. Wow.
Yeah, that’s so not me. Note: Although for the most part I’m a really happy person, I do have my off days, and on those days I feel pretty crappy.
But, you know, you gotta keep on’ trucking. And plenty can happen in 24 hours. Despite feeling blue, your girl still manages to find a few random acts of beauty.
When I feel like crap I make extensive lists. This morning, after drinking my morning coffee and watching a Tivo’d episode of last night’s The Hills finale, I started a new one titled “At least.”
December 11, 2007, 7:12 a.m.
At least …
– At least I’m not Spencer from The Hills. Thank you, jeebus!
– At least my teeth aren’t so blindingly white that I look like I stuck a bunch of Chicklets into my gums, like Audrina.
– At least I have all my teeth!
– At least I’m a nice girl who doesn’t strike the fear of God into people, like scary Lisa Love.
– At least I have opposable thumbs, so that I can type and hold my makeup brushes and use door knobs.
– At least I don’t have to sell my soul in order to pay my bills.
– At least I can write in complete sentences.
– At least I don’t feel compelled to do things in print LIKE WRITE IN CAPS ALL THE TIME or AlTeRnAtE lOwEr CaSe wItH uPpEr CaSe.
After one full page of the “At Least” list I feel a tiny bit better. I hear the neighbor’s tabby meowing at the door. I now have some company. Yes.
December 11. 2007, 10:25 a.m.
Endorphins, I need you. It’s cold but sunny outside, so I bundle up and go for a run.
The leaves crunch beneath my feet, and I’m running so fast that I can barely control my breath. During my run I see a mom with a baby stroller. Then, I pass a tiny bird on a bare tree branch, an unruly golden retriever and the green-blue waters of the San Francisco Bay. On my way back home, I sprint down a hill and catch a glimpse of my shadow running hard and fast. I’m reminded of the girl that I am on my best days; she’s tenacious and strong and doesn’t give up.
My legs kick into high gear, and, suddenly, everything is whizzing by. My body feels like it’s singing. I feel more like myself again. Yes.
December 11, 2007, 11:05 a.m.
Back at home, I turn on the “random” song selection on iTunes and hear a few songs that lift my spirit.
December 11, 2007, 11:30 a.m.
I’ve got five minutes to put on makeup before leaving for work. Although I’m feeling much better, I feel I should be prepared for an unexpected burst of tears in the afternoon. I curl my lashes and put on two coats of Prescriptives Here to Stay mascara, which never lets me down. Thank you, powers-that-be, for giving us waterproof mascara on days when emotional breakdowns loom. Yes.
December 11, 2007, 4:05 p.m.
After work I go to Rite Aid, buy an ice cream cone and cruise the makeup section. I’ve been doing this since I was a kid and it always makes me feel better. There’s a fat sale on Maybelline products. Yes.
Today’s Rite Aid Beauty Loot
Keep on keepin’ on, ya’ll.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Beauty Snacks (like Scooby Snacks, but cooler)
