1. I am blown away by your way with words and the depth of your messages. This is exquisite and I will be carrying your eloquent words with me to the pool this summer. I pray I can follow your lead and see my own definition of beauty because I see it everyday in my children’s imperfect, but oh so beautiful, selves.

  2. Sarah Vhay says:

    So beautiful! Thank you for sharing this. I’ve really been struggling lately to see myself as my family and friends see me rather than how popular media sees me. Posts like this really help.

    I LOVE the pic of you and your daughter making faces at each other. Best wishes,
    Sarah

  3. Bhadra says:

    I love this post! Such honesty. Well put – hope this message gets spread far and wide!

  4. Jeanne says:

    Happy Mother’s Day! What an amazingly insightful post and one I will share with my daughters who are into keeping it real as well 🙂

  5. Cathy says:

    I am so impressed by your depth. Keep keepin’ it real and unedited and we’ll all try to be as honest! : )

  6. Michele says:

    I like the last shot the best! What a great entry….

  7. Rhea says:

    Lovely thoughts, and well expressed. Loved all the pics, and the glimpses into your life.

  8. Amanda says:

    Lovely and brave.

  9. Juli says:

    You and your family are lovely edited and unedited. Thanks for the beautiful reminder to cultivate your own peculiar brand of beauty and wonder wherever you are! And to love all those flaws that enhance us. Wabi-Sabi.

  10. Wow your images and message are incredible.

    Recently, I had my 5 year old daughter take pictures of us playing in the backyard. It was amazing to see how she saw us and captured the real beauty of our family in the everyday.

  11. serenity says:

    Wow, beautiful ,real and amazing. thank You!!

  12. Kelly Peck says:

    Thank you.

  13. paula says:

    Love this. And will share on facebook, as I know many women who will read this and love it as much as i did!! You are awesome and I love reading your stuff -although I wish I had time to read more. Thank you!

  14. Peg Runnels says:

    Terrific essay on what is beauty, Beth.

    My husband loves your profile shadow on Hunter’s chest in the first photograph.

  15. Kelly says:

    Loving life Unfiltered with blemishes and mussed hair right along with you!

  16. Barbara says:

    I truly loved all the photos. Makes me miss all of you and Tulum. No one gets through life with out a story of ups and downs. Life is hard, not always fair, but if you just open your eyes and heart and let the beauty in life will be beautiful. Thanks for sharing part of your story. love Barbara

  17. Anka says:

    Beautiful post! I love your choice of words and the photos: perfectly put :o)))
    The descriptions of the shoots made me think of Victoria´s Secret/Chanel-model Cameron Russell´s TED-talk…

  18. Jennifer DS says:

    You are beautiful. In the best and most important way.

  19. Debbie says:

    I’m sorry Beth, but if you’re trying to convince me that you are not actually as beautiful as your facebook profile pic suggests, you have failed miserably. And while filters are cool, it was not the filter that made you and your daughter look stunning. And I’m not just trying to imply that you’re lucky because you’re pretty people. (you are.) You’re really real, too, and that shines through every one of those pictures.

  20. Carly says:

    Nailed it beth, like you always do. You are a blessing to those who seek truth

  21. BJ says:

    Beth, I salute your enlightenment. You may also be interested in examining the “editorial photoshopping” that occurs not in photos, but in the text of blogs and articles. Highlighting a piece with phrases like, “Since living in Tulum” and colorizing with “I decided to ditch the laptop and write on the beach (because I can)” displays a manipulation of words similar to that done with pictures of models, in that it displays the writer as a stereotype of 1% elitism rather than a rough-edged, natural human being. Namaste.

    • Beth says:

      BJ – what an interesting comment. I’m not quite sure how to take it. It sounds tinged with sarcasm and judgement (as you know nothing of the circumstances under which I live where I do, nor the degree of sensitivity with which I attempt to write). I do, however, appreciate knowing how it came across to you, and will examine the ideas you mentioned, as I am always looking to grow. Beth

    • Andrea says:

      I really don’t think that is the same at all. A writer’s intention (usually) is to paint a picture using descriptive sentences. I think it’s relevant to know that this blogger was not sitting on a crowded street in Chicago observing frenzied people, but in a setting surrounded by serenity, beauty, and circumstances where this is being highlighted (a model in alluring poses wearing next to nothing). The contrast then of “normal” things & people STILL conveying true beauty, vs. what we are “supposed” to label as such stands out more.

      Sheesh.

  22. Stacey says:

    Beth, I love both your post and responses to comments. As a fellow blogger, I learn from you on a regular basis. I have to tell you that I’ve thought about this post multiple times since I read it– not only am I amazed by your beautiful writing and ability to so succinctly nail HUGE issues, I also admire your honesty. AND as a fellow blogger, I think that you can be thoroughly authentic without sharing every single detail of your life. You can also write very effective posts with highlighted segments that direct your reader’s attention to your main point (the reason we write these things, right?) without sacrificing your humanness. Keep up the good work– it’s a pleasure reading your words.

  23. Mali Korsten says:

    I just love this post!

  24. Drea says:

    so very true. We have a culture where only beauty is acceptable. With the internet, we can see so much beauty, so many pretty faces, pretty spaces, we forget what makes our own lives beautiful. We spend too much time wishing for what others have.

  25. Daniel Fryar says:

    My boys really like skater videos and I remind them as often as I can that they do 100 attempts for every 2 that make it on youtube (the best and the worst usually make it). There’s an interesting TED talk from a model, also, that you might be interested to watch.

  26. erica says:

    simply perfect and beautiful, thank you!

  27. Andrea says:

    You will have to thank your sister, or perhaps I am the one who owes her the thanks, as she directed me here from her comment on PaleOMGs blog….anyway! Great read. I get sooooooo sick of the superficial “beauty” that is shoved down our throats every single day by the media. I used to have a very self-conscious friend who always commented negatively on the appearance of others to make her own insecurities seem less, and when our friendship fizzled, I vowed to try to see at least ONE “beautiful” thing about the people I took time to observe in a day; eyes that sparkle, a beautiful effortless smile (crooked teeth and all!) or whatever, because we ALL have beauty, and it is NOT what the marketing gurus have honed in on. (P.S. I think ALL the photos of you and your daughter are gorgeous)

  28. Lise says:

    Beth, I admire and so relate to your quest for “realness”. . . funny how being raised in a home where Dad wanted to portray things as “perfect” which made me nauseous as a kid. . . and made me determined to be anything but “perfect”.. .somehow I’ve found a balance and decided to just be who God made me. . .that’s what’s real. . . thank you for being candid and real and painfully introspective. . .and please just ignore the people who can’t seem to share in your joy. . .You are awesome. . . wish I had your gift with words. . . luckily I enjoy reading more than writing! LOL

  29. Julie says:

    Beth, gracias. De corazon.

  30. Dawna says:

    I can’t tell you how validating, reliving, and heart-opening I find this piece. Thank you for revealing the unrevealed and for your willingness to show your own humanity and perfect imperfectness. What a gift! Truly. A deep bow of thank you!

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