The other day, I was thinking about the times that I feel pretty (Maria’s song “I Feel Pretty” from West Side Story was stuck in my head). I feel pretty when I wear mascara, when my skin is clear, when I wear pink lipstick, when I wear summer dresses.
Then I thought about the difference between feeling pretty and feeling beautiful. For me, feeling pretty is a superficial thing. That’s not to say it’s a bad thing, but it’s usually based on things I add to my appearance.
When do I feel beautiful? I feel beautiful when my husband kisses my cheek and tells me he loves me. I feel beautiful when I remember that I am a beloved daughter of God. I feel beautiful when I am able to help others. I tell my husband all the time that I wish there was a manly version of the word beautiful, because when he calls me beautiful I always feel like he’s referring more to my spirit than my face and I wish there was a word to describe how handsome his spirit is.
What do you think? When do you feel pretty? When do you feel beautiful? Is there a difference?
