A Good Friend

A while back I was chatting with my Best friend Tamara, she was talking about how she always remembered my mom telling her that no matter who is in your life, be it your spouse, friend, whoever, they should always make you want to be a better person. Such sage advice, however, I’m the one who told her that not my oh so wise mother who does share lots of tid bits like that.  This one, is mine  TAMARA...Mine~ haha

It seems I use that line in at least two conversations a week; it makes me sad to see that we make such poor choices when choosing friends. A friend, a true friend should push you to be better, should challenge you to flourish in areas that you feel you cannot. 

Rainbow Cupcake In A Jar

As I got together with a friend last night for a yummy dessert (recipe at bottom) and girl time, I contemplated true friendships. At one point in our conversation she looked at me and said “now I understand why you lived the way you did when we were younger, I wish that I would have listened to you about respecting myself and that I am worthy of love and a good man.” Now granted, she wouldn’t have the stories, life lessons she has now and wouldn’t be the same person if she hadn’t struggled; however, it was a nice thing for my heart to hear. I’ve always been the honest friend in my relationships, I’m a straight shot and I’ll tell you how it is. I believe that Integrity is one of the most important things that a person should have. It was nice that my friend saw that in me, may have taken awhile for her to acknowledge it, but we all have a path to follow.

So how can we be a good friend with our integrity in tact? Well I was thinking about that this morning as I was praying for my son.  You know those women who can’t go to CVS for like five seconds without perfect hair and makeup? They can’t take out the trash without a Juicy couture outfit on? Well, I feel to be a good friend, good person in fact, you have to be pretty on the inside to be pretty on the outside.  You can’t put on integrity like black eyeliner; “good friend” isn’t a primer that you wear. They are things that you work towards on the inside, qualities that last a life time and don’t just fit in that adorable Betsy Johnson clutch. Last night when I went to my friends’ house, I had uggs, black pants and a flowy shirt. No makeup and my hair was up in my curls. Now, though I love to be glam and fun, that’s not possible all the time with a one year old. In order to feel pretty and sure of myself on the outside, I had to go through intensive work on the inside. 

  I think that’s where the integrity comes from, I won’t settle for less than I deserve and I’ve found a sense of pride in who I am and the respect I have for myself and my body. I may not look like Heidi Klum and every once in awhile, I’m sitting next to this gorgeous blonde and my insecurities wish I did. However, I can be just as pretty as her, and I truly believe that. My smile can light up a room, my kindness can attract people to me and my honesty and integrity can be sexy qualities. Sounds weird doesn’t it? Because this world tells you it’s not good enough, you have to fit this supermodel mold, this attractive person quota. I refuse to let the world tell me, or my kids if they are “pretty” enough. That’s why I began to put the pretty back in my life. When she told me that she understood why I lived my life the way I did and gave me recognition for being a person of integrity, I felt beautiful, comfortable in my skin because I’ve worked so hard to be happy and beautiful inside.

 I challenge you today, to put a little pretty back into your life, start working on the inside, so that the outside can shine brighter than you ever thought. It’s like that Pink song “Perfect”.  “Change the voices in your head, make them like you instead”. Make a change full of pretty and relish in your beauty!

 **As promised, a yummy dessert recipe. I went to Tamara’s “Girls Night In” and brought one of these for each person. Cupcake in a jar, it was simple and so pretty! They were a delight at the get together! Try it!

 

I printed out these free printable tags and wrote quotes about friendship on the back. It personalizes each lady's cupcake!