Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Just Sit There and Look Pretty


She's a little beauty. Those big brown eyes could woo the heart of just about anyone. Her lashes are so long, they could sweep the dustbunnies off the floor. Her bouncy curls and pouty lips. And those sweet little toes peeking out from under her princess dress? You could kiss each one.

How will the world receive her?
Surely she will be adored. She will hear the whispers, the expressions of how cute she is when she's mad....how contagious her giggle is....how charming she is when she shows you her dance poses in her brand new pink ballerina shoes.

As she grows, she will catch the eye of many boys... on the playground swings as they double-dare her to eat grasshoppers....as they show off in front of her on the soccer field....a glance from across the room in first year history class....an office crush....love at first sight at someone else's wedding....

She will not be immune to the mixed messages she will receive in the world...on magazine covers, television ads, Miss Universe pageants, modelling reality shows, celebrity gossip grapevines...she will feel the ever-constricting pressure to be perfect.

But will she see past all that superficial garbage? Will she know that it is all surface stuff? Will she understand that what really means something, is the gorgeousness of her insides? How extraordinary she is? What it is about her that makes her so hilarious? What her hidden talents are that separate her from the conforming masses? How special she can make someone feel, just by being her beautiful self?

This little look she gave me...the way she folded her arms when I asked her to sit down in her fancy dress and let me take her picture... may she develop this subtle emotion, and use this little roll-of-the-eyes defiance when she is confronted with something that doesn't correlate with the truest parts of her being. A little attitude can be a powerful thing.
There's more to this beauty than just sitting pretty.


~Please go visit emmatree and find the other sitting pretty links.... an open invitation to see how many other collaborative bloggers are interpreting these 6 little words. Debi has created quite a gathering with this brilliant idea. And she is giving away one of her gorgeous paintings too!

24 comments:

  1. sweetness and innocence all rolled into one beautiful little girl......

    she's precious !

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  2. oh yes, may she keep that sense of self that we have when we are so young, and somehow seem to lose so much of along the way. I love what you wrote...and that is one gorgeous photo.

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  3. wonderful words and a beauty of a photograph!

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  4. Yes, yes, may she be her wonderful eye-rolling self, beautiful, beautiful. Keep that attitude. The world will be hers with that attitude.

    xoxo
    Debi

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  5. Beautiful! I do so hope that she carries that "attitude" with her her whole life, it will serve her well.

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  6. i love that she already recognizes some of her truest self and hope she holds it in her heart for ever and always.

    she is beautiful and sweet in this photograph - what a wonderful job

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  7. That is the greatest beauty of all~to not bank on the projected beauty of the world. And, on all counts, she is all that!

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  8. Oh, she is so gorgeous! I don't even know what to say, this does something to my heart that I can't quite define. And I hope you are right about her future, and that she stays pretty in her own way.

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  9. She is so adorable and spunky. I want to believe that with you there to remind her that those media messages are a load of crap, she'll retain that defiant inner spirit. I sure hope so!

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  11. jaime,
    this is love... sweet, hopeful love.
    xo

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  12. Yeah, permission given to sit any way anybody wants.
    LOVE your line about the grasshopper double-dare...

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  13. a little attitude is a powerful thing... thank goodness. Beautiful.

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  14. Yes, may she always remain fully aware that Pretty isn't an Adjective you sit around waiting for others to bestow upon you ~ but a Verb you choose to embrace, or not - depending on how you feel at the time.

    What a mindful mother you are!!

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  15. She's very self possessed, isn't she? I love photos like this that convey an entire personality in just one glance.

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  16. Pretty with an attitude, just perfect.

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  17. This little sweet is enchanting ~ and you have captured her so well Jaime! Beautiful!

    xo Catherine

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  18. she is so sweet. i often have those same questions for my future daughters (if i have any). i love this.

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  19. What a gorgeous child and a beautiful photo. I love your words...I have a feeling she will be just fine.

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  20. beautiful and perfect! :) yes, we were in sync w this, for sure! you put it beautifully, and your image(s-i've been peeking around!) are captivating. love them~
    thanks for stopping by!

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  21. She is lovely!!! And you've painted her magical..with your words and how her future life might someday be. Just sitting pretty - yes!

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  22. It was a marvelous idea. And your entry is so perfect and full of heart. I love it. LOVE IT!

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  23. So? Have I visited yet and told you how thrilled I am that you are playing along with me in the swap? Well, I am. I'll be sending an email in an hour or so. Yay! Thanks so much for participating. Blessings to you, my friend. ~ Relyn

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  24. Poor little thing looks so bored. She has no idea how precious she is. What a grab! Just a great image, congrats.

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