I am Brave and Beautiful

Today I'm "un-doing".

I'm presenting a naked smile.

I am Brave and Beautiful is a beauty movement that is sweeping the globe. Colbie Caillat started it with her recent song and video called TRY. My blogging friends wanted to push this movement along and invited women from all over to share what they looked like without make up and I joined in. Colbie’s song says, “Take your make up off. Let your hair down… Look into the mirror at yourself, Do you like you? Cause I like you… “

Megan and her friend Cobi are behind this project. Their vision included creating their own video inspired by the song TRY. The talent of Robbins Creative made it possible for them to pull it off. You have to click play and see the beauty and bravery displayed and you might even recognize a few faces in there.

I’ve joined in with 101+ other blogging women from different backgrounds, religions, ethnicities, ages, shapes and sizes and we've all decided to be Brave and Beautiful! You can join in this movement, too, by sharing what you look like without makeup on. you don't need to be a blogger. Just tag your photo with #IamBraveAndBeautiful on Instagram and search the hashtag to see who else has joined in. ALSO, if you tag it with a second hashtag, #ColbieTRY, we just might be able to get Colbie Caillat’s attention since she was the inspiration behind it all!

Are you brave and beautiful?

I'm not.

I've been criticized. I've been told that I'm ugly. My ideas are a waste of time. I'm stupid. I'm just a "hick country girl". Being that I'm not good enough, pretty enough, young enough and smart enough. And at 54 years old, I'm just old. Throughout many years, I've spent a lot of time trying to evaluate who I am and why and it shouldn't be based on others' criticism.

If my appearance can't be socially accepted like this:

Then it will never be accepted like this:

And I don't mind.

I've always accepted the fact that no one could like me for who I am. Now that I've fully matured, I don't even care what others think. The painful words and actions don't hurt anymore. I really AM different. Who should give a knick knack patty whack? Me. I need to please myself and realize the beauty around me. I know who I am and what I love. I’m not perfect and never will be. I put my heart and soul into who and what I love. I just strive to do the best I can. That's enough for me. It seems to be enough for those who love me back.

I'm brave. I'm tough. I'm a creator. I'm a wife, mother, daughter, sister and conqueror of my self inflicted battles. My appearance is not beautiful, but I know my heart is because it loves so hard it hurts. That is power. That is bravery. That is my beauty.

share your natrual beauty - brassyapple.com

Good morning, face! Let's get out there and have another kick ass beautiful day!

Don't stop here. Get clicking around – its a blog hop! Below are more brave and beautiful women bearing more than their natural beauty. They all have a little bit of their heart to share with you. Some get very personal. Some share stories. For some this was very hard to do yet they gathered their courage and did it anyway. We hope as you click around (and YES pin these different posts!) you will feel the importance of it, the empowering effect it has and that it encourages you in some way.