Carmindy - Bloom: A Girls Guide to Growing Up Gorgeous

H ave you ever heard the saying A rose by any other name would smell as sweet? Turns out that Shakespeare guy really was on to something. Ask any one of your friends what their favorite flower is. Now ask someone else. The more people you approach, the more varying answers youll get. Some people think daisies are awfully sweet, and others are crazy about pansies. Tulips, daffodils, peonies... to borrow another famous expression, Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Everyone seems to have a completely different idea of whats considered gorgeous. Try to visualize what kind of flower you would be. Just pick your favorite and think about what makes it special. Think especially about what makes it stand apart from the other flowers. Just like each of us, there are seemingly unlimited variations of petals, each with different qualities that make them appealing. For example, roses are always lovely, but some people are especially drawn to honeysuckle, which may not be as showy, but its blossoms smell so sweet! Daffodils are especially charming to others, because their lovely goofiness makes them totally endearing. The famous female artist Georgia OKeeffe painted many, many kinds of flowerssometimes she focused on ones that boasted unique shapes; other times, specific colors inspired herand she managed to highlight the idea that there is spectacular beauty in every bloom, if you look closely enough. Then remember how, like your flower, you are also super unique, whether its the unusual color of your eyes or your adorable crooked smile. It doesnt matter if youre a delicate orchid or a wild cactus flower: This book is about celebrating them all. I see the beauty in each of you, and I want you to as well.

Heres another botanical quote for you: The grass is always greener. Im going to let you in on a juicy little secret that it took me years to learn. My curly brunette beauties out there, have you ever longed for super-straight blonde locks? Bold blue-eyed babies, do you think chocolate brown eyes are the ultimate accessories? It may sound crazy, but its true on every level: Women of all ages seem to have this weird idea that if only they looked different, they would somehow feel better about themselves. Kinda silly, right? But it gets crazier: Sometimes I work with famous models and celebrities, and many times theyre tall, have straight teeth, clear complexionsall the things the fashion magazines tell us is considered beautiful. And heres the thing. They feel the same way. Tall, thin girls often say they wish they could be petite and curvaceous. Petite, curvy girls have spent more time than you could possibly imagine yearning to be more waifish and exotic. It seems everyone is sick with this envy disease.

The good news is, you dont have to play the compare-and-despair game. Our differences are what make us awesome! Walt Disney (I know youve heard of him!) said it best: The more you are like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique. So stop that negative voice in your head right in its tracks and know that each and every one of our differences is actually what makes us beautiful. Once you fully understand that, you will begin to bloom like a flower in such magical ways that it will blow your mind. Embracing your own individuality with total confidence creates energy around you that people will want to emulate. Confidence is the product of self-love and it is truly what gives us the power to shine, to love, to laugh, to fall down and fail, and get up again to become better.