Archive through September 26, 2002
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TV ClubHouse: Archive: 2003 April: "You Are Beautiful" (ARCHIVES): Archive through September 26, 2002

Aunt_Bob

Monday, September 02, 2002 - 08:38 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
A little boy asked his mother "Why are you crying?" "Because I am a woman", she told him. "I don't understand", he said. His mom just hugged him and said, "And you probably never will."

Later, the little boy asked his father, "Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?" "All women cry for no reason", was all his dad could say.

The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry. Finally, he put in a call to God; and when God got on the phone, he asked, "God, why do women cry so easily?"

God said: "When I made the woman, she had to be special. I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world; yet, gentle enough to give comfort. I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from her children."

"I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up, and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue without complaining. I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances, even when her child has hurt her very badly."

"I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart. I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him unfalteringly."

"And finally, I gave her a tear to shed. This is hers exclusively to use whenever it is needed."

"You see - The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides."

"Every Woman Is Beautiful"

Author unknown. Just wanted to share with my TVCH friends.

Sia

Tuesday, September 03, 2002 - 12:32 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Awwwww, Aunt Bob, that's really nice. My son saw a Slim-Fast commercial the other day and asked me, "Mom, do you wish you could buy some of that so you could be skinny?" I told him that I certainly WOULD love to be painfully thin, but that it wasn't as simple as buying a few cans of diet products. I then said, "If I were skinny, I'd feel beautiful." He said, "Mom, you ARE beautiful." Then he took my face in his hands and said, "To me." My boy is turning six years old this month and he's the most sensitive, caring child I've ever known--except when he hits his sister!! Now I understand why mothers are so overprotective of their sons; it's a love like I've never felt before!

Twiggyish

Tuesday, September 03, 2002 - 05:26 am EditMoveDeleteIP
That's wonderful. It reminds me of this one..


The Beauty Of A Woman

The beauty of a woman,
isn't in the clothes she wears,
the figure that she carries,
or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes
because that's the doorway to her heart,
the place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman, isn't in a facial mole,
but true beauty in a woman
is reflected by her soul.
It's the caring that she cares to give,
the passion that she shows,
and the beauty of a woman,
with passing years, only grows.

...Maya Angelou

Gail

Tuesday, September 03, 2002 - 05:33 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Those are all nice. :)

Rose_City

Tuesday, September 03, 2002 - 12:36 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks, Aunt Bob, for starting this thread and the poignant parable you posted and Twiggyish, for your contribution from Maya Angelou, and for Sia's touching comments, all are gorgeous--especially nice to read when you're having a "down day."

When I turned 50 (almost two years ago), I was down that morning, and wrote an essay and put it on my Web site. I was shocked at the number of readers and responses. Hemingway, I'm not. But the response was strong because I talked about the bad and the good of reaching that milestone. For me, the worst part of turning 50 was feeling invisible. Oh, does that hurt! Can any of you identify?

This thread helped me focus on what's truly important: Who we are on the INSIDE. That's what we need to remember on our down days, eh?

Thank you, beautiful ladies and have a lovely day!

Rose_City (new gal in town)

Djgirl5235

Tuesday, September 03, 2002 - 01:03 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
After struggling with anorexia for almost 7 years (and being a survivor for almost 9 now) I can say that these words of inner beauty mean more to me than can possibly be said. Sia, your sons words brought tears to my eyes, as I recall the struggle I battled through for so long. The desire to be thin, and "beautiful". It has taken me this long to finally figure out that the reason that people love me is for who I am, not what I look like.

Thank you all for the gorgeous reminders to not judge a book by its cover, you could miss the beauty that's inside.

Rose_City

Tuesday, September 03, 2002 - 01:08 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Djgirl5235: (((((((((((Djgirl5235)! I can't imagine how difficult that struggle with anorexia had to be. Good for you for overcoming such a difficult problem! You should be proud!

Twiggyish

Tuesday, September 03, 2002 - 01:10 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Dj, absolutely!!!

Ketchuplover

Tuesday, September 03, 2002 - 01:40 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I wont hate y'all because you're beautiful :)

Rose_City

Tuesday, September 03, 2002 - 02:12 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Why do I have this feeling we're all going to join hands and sing Kumbaya? :) Hey, Ketchuplover, perhaps you can conduct our voices?

A toast to all you beautiful people!

Bigd

Tuesday, September 03, 2002 - 02:31 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
As soon as I saw this thread I thought of this Bette Midler song - allot more light hearted, but a good message just the same. GO GIRL!
I'm Beautiful

I'm beautiful, I'm beautiful, I'm beautiful, dam_it!
I'm beautiful, I'm beautiful, I'm beautiful, dam_it!
I'm beautiful, so beautiful, I'm beautiful, dam_it!
I'm beautiful, I'm beautiful, I'm beautiful, dam_it!

"Go away, little girl," they used to say.
"Hey, you're too fat, baby, you can't play."
"Hold on, miss thing, what you trying to do?
You know you're too wack to be in our school."

Too wack, too smart, too fast, too fine,
too loud, too tough, too too divine.
I said you don't belong. You don't belong.
Too loud, too big, too much to bear,
too bold, too brash, too prone to swear.
I heard that song for much too long.

Ain't this my sun? Ain't this my moon?
Ain't this my world to be who I choose?
Ain't this my song? Ain't this my movie?
Ain't this my world? I know I can do it.

I'm not too short, I'm not too tall,
I'm not too big, I'm not too small.
Ooh, don't lemme start lovin' myself!
Ooh, don't lemme start lovin' myself!
I'm not too white, I'm not too black,
I'm not too this, I'm not too that.
Ooh, don't lemme start lovin' myself!
Ooh, don't lemme start lovin' myself!

I'm beautiful, I'm beautiful, I'm beautiful, dam_it!
I'm beautiful, I'm beautiful, I'm beautiful, dam_it!

It's time to call it what it is. Don't play the naming game.
Become what you were born to be and be it unashamed.
"Go away, little boy," I can hear them say,
"Everybody on the block says they think you're gay.
Hold on, my friend, do you think we're blind?
Take a look at yourself. You're not our kind."

Too black, too white, too short, too tall,
too big, too green, too red, too small.
I said you don't belong. You don't belong.
Too black, too white, too short, too tall,
too blue, too green, too red, too small.
I heard that song for much to long.

Ain't this my sun? Ain't this my moon?
Ain't this my world to be who I choose?
Ain't this my song? Ain't this my movie?
Ain't this my world? I know I can do it.

People always ask me,
"Miss M, how did you get so far
on so little?" Shut up!
Well, I woke up one morning,
flossed my teeth and decided,
"Damn, I'm fierce!" You look good!
You can be just like me! A goddess? Yeah!
Don't just ••••• foot around and sit on your assets.
Unleash your ferocity upon an unsuspecting world.
Rise up and repeat after me: "I'm beautiful!"

I'm beautiful, I'm beautiful, I'm beautiful!
Can you say that?
I'm beautiful, I'm beautiful, I'm beautiful!
I don't hear you!
I'm beautiful, I'm beautiful, I'm beautiful!
Louder!
I'm beautiful, I'm beautiful, I'm beautiful!
Hey!

That's it, baby, when you got it, flaunt it, flaunt it!

Aaaaaah!
Ain't this my sun? My sun! Ain't this my moon? My moon!
Ain't this my world to be who I choose?
Ain't this our song? Ain't this our song?
Ain't this our movie? Ain't this our movie?
Ain't this our world to be who we choose?

I'm not too short, I'm not too tall,
I'm not too big, I'm not too small.
Ooh, don't lemme start lovin' myself!
Ooh, don't lemme start lovin' myself!
I'm not too white, I'm not too black,
I'm not too this, I'm not too that.
Ooh, don't lemme start lovin' myself!
Ooh, don't lemme start lovin' myself!
I'm beautiful, dammit!

Rose_City

Tuesday, September 03, 2002 - 02:36 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Bigd: YEEHAW! Love it!

Reader234

Thursday, September 05, 2002 - 02:41 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Loving thoughts!!

(today I had to tell a 2nd grade I've not got a baby kicking in my tummy..just fat!!)

Aunt_Bob

Friday, September 06, 2002 - 03:42 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
This one’s for the teachers here at TVCH
~~ It is quite lengthy, but a truly inspiring story. ~~

This is a true story, so it is said, of an elementary teacher that took place many years ago. Her name was Mrs. Thompson. And as she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children a lie. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. But, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard. Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he didn't play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. And Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers. At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise. Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners...he is a joy to be around." His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well-liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle." His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken." Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and sometimes sleeps in class." By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing and a bottle that was one quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to." After the children left, she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading and writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children.
Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets."
A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had in his whole life. Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had, but now his name was a little longer; the letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, M.D.
The story doesn't end there.
You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he'd met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit in the place at the wedding that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. And she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together. They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you, Mrs. Thompson, for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference." Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."

Landi

Friday, September 06, 2002 - 09:30 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
thank you for reminding me of Mr. Lyon, Sydney Elementary, Castro Valley, 1973... the one teacher who made me feel special

landi

Aunt_Bob

Saturday, September 07, 2002 - 01:43 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
landi: totally my pleasure ... Good Memories ... nothing like 'em!

Twiggyish

Saturday, September 07, 2002 - 02:33 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Miss Schumacher, Piper High School, 1976 Sunrise, FL

She was a wonderful and inspirational teacher.

Lancecrossfire

Tuesday, September 10, 2002 - 12:46 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Aunt_Bob--thank you very, very much.

Aunt_Bob

Friday, September 13, 2002 - 08:29 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Little note: this is not anti-male, but it is pro-strong female.


Mom and Dad were watching TV when Mom said, "I'm tired, and it's getting late. I think I'll go to bed."
She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day's lunches, rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning. She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes into the wash, ironed a shirt and secured a loose button. She picked up the game pieces left on the table and put the telephone book back into the drawer. She watered the plants, emptied a wastebasket and hung up a towel to dry. She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom. She stopped by the desk and wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the field trip, and pulled a textbook out from hiding under the chair. She signed a birthday card for a friend, addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick note for the grocery store. She put both near her purse. Mom then washed her face, put on moisturizer, brushed and flossed her
teeth and trimmed her nails. Dad called out, "I thought you were going to bed." "I'm on my way," she said. She put some water into the dog's dish and called the cat in, then made sure the doors were locked. She looked in on each of the kids and turned out a bedside lamp, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks in the hamper, and had a brief conversation with the one still up doing homework. In her own room, she set the alarm, laid out clothing for the next day, straightened up the shoe rack. She added three things to her list of things to do for tomorrow.

About that time, Dad turned off the TV and
announced to no one in particular, "I'm going to bed." And he did...without another thought.

Aunt_Bob

Saturday, September 21, 2002 - 09:27 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
A middle-aged woman seemed sheepish as she visited her gynecologist.

"Come now," coaxed the doctor, "you've been seeing me for years! There's nothing you can't tell me."

"This one's kind of strange..."

"Let me be the judge of that," the doctor replied.

"Well," she said, "yesterday I went to the bathroom in the morning and heard a plink-plink-plink in the toilet; and when I looked down, the water was full of pennies."

"I see."

"That afternoon I went again and there were nickels in the bowl.."

"Uh-huh"

"That night," she went on, "there were dimes and this morning there were quarters! You've got to tell me what's wrong with me!," she implored, "I'm scared out of my wits!"

The gynecologist put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "There, there, it's nothing to be scared about."
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(Still not too late.....stop now!)
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"You're simply going through the change."

Juju2bigdog

Saturday, September 21, 2002 - 09:48 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Ack!!!

Theowl

Sunday, September 22, 2002 - 09:02 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I LOVE IT!!! (as I sit here in my air conditioned house with water flowing out of my pores!!)

Dahli

Wednesday, September 25, 2002 - 04:26 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Oh Rose - your 'invisible' comment really struck me... this is the hardest thing I've ever had to face. In every other thing in my life, I have always been able to say, 'this too shall pass' but not with this.
My entire life I have been physically beautiful and took it for granted. The power was heady and I actually abused the priveledge at times. But now as I approach 50 the looks are fading and I feel more and more invisible. It's scary cuz I know that this will not pass, it will only get worse. I am frightened and would love to read anything you've written about this.

Twiggyish

Wednesday, September 25, 2002 - 07:56 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I love this one and so wanted to share...

WOMAN OF GRACE AND SPLENDOUR

Woman of Grace and Splendour,
Don't turn away from your wisdom,
Listen to the voice that prompts and guides you,
Be not afraid of your power.
For you are the hope of the world,
The light that guides many a soul.
Take up your role as Torchbearer of the Light,
Walk quietly and gently but hold your head high.

You have traveled far and long,
Over mountains, through valleys,
across rivers and seas.
You have been patient and persevered.
Sometimes you suffered, deep painful wounds,
At other times your spirit flew as high as the sky.
Pave the way for those who will follow,
The mothers, the daughters, the friends.
Listen carefully to the call of the soul,
For the song of the soul is sweet and enchanting,
It lures like a seductive mistress,
It calls to those who would hear.

Oh woman of grace and splendour,
Be ready, prepare, for your time has come.
Step forward with courage and compassion,
Know there is nothing to fear.
For before you lies a universe
ready to unfold at your feet,
Terrains wait to be explored,
And horizons that long to be touched.
Reach out, expand, let your fingers touch the stars,
Release the veils of illusion.

Wise woman, listen to your heart,
Every beat brings you closer to who you really are,
Your heart is filled with untold passion and longing,
It longs to speak your truth and set you free.
You are the candle in the dark,
The light that burns forever.
Dare to fulfill your destiny,
To embrace your dreams and fantasies,
To live every moment abundantly and joyfully,
Within the knowledge of everything
you are and could ever be.

~ Author Unknown ~


I'd love to find the Red Hat poem to add here...

Aunt_Bob

Thursday, September 26, 2002 - 09:29 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Twiggy . . .

I want you to know how much, how very, very much, your sharing of that amazingly beautiful prose came right at the perfect time for me. It was just what I needed, although I did not know it before I read it. What I am clumsily(?) alluding to is, I was hoping and praying for something to happen, something, anything ... to inspire me to do what I know I have to do. I prayed last night. Last night you came to post. I prayed tonight. I haven't been in here (this thread) for about a week. Tonight I came to post. I was feeling great emotion just reading through the first paragraph. By the last paragraph, specifically the last four lines, I was overwhelmed. I am going to print this out and take it with me tomorrow and read it as I go about 'embracing my dreams and fantasies'. I do not expect you to remotely understand what I am talking about, I just want you to know that I believe everything 'happens' for a reason and I believe you 'happened' for me tonight. Even though I am more than aware that it was neither intentionally nor personally directed at me, [the posting of this poem], I am intentionally and personally thanking you very much for sharing it with us.