Recently I recommended this book, Captivating, to a new friend. The recommendation came up as this friend of mine and I were talking about her current and past issues with romantic relationships. I don’t remember the details of Captivating, but I know I loved reading it…I have read it a few times. I remember that it was really healing and that it helped me realize how good it is to be a woman. Anytime I have recognized insecurity and self-doubt creeping in I’ve re-read the book.
Harmony, the new friend, reminded me that the book also addresses the fact that beauty and femininity are under attack. It’s true. In fact there is a billboard in Salt Lake City for a plastic surgery clinic that reads, “Make your inner beauty jealous”. It has a picture of a perfectly chiseled woman with a mean, conquering smile. The idea, obviously, is that beauty is some sort of competition to be won and you know you have won when your physical appearance creates jealousy… but this billboard isn’t even talking about competition with other women, it is talking about competition with one’s true source for beauty… I have always thought that it is strange that in LDS culture it is a joke to say someone has a “sweet spirit”… it is kind-code for calling a person physically unattractive. I wish women, including myself, really believed that beauty comes from feminine confidence rooted in a connection to the divine. I don’t know how to really believe these truths, and keep believing them. Sometimes I understand truth more than others. I guess I will keep learning
Anyways… I really liked hanging out with, and talking to Harmony about this book Saturday. After our girl talk we picked up Nate and went to a place that Harmony calls The Mud Flats. The Mud Flats are just a few minutes outside of Alice. She found it one day by following a few 4WD vehicles. That is one way to find little local treasures.
3 comments:
I have been thinking some of these same thoughts lately. I recently saw that Salt Lake City has again been rewarded the title of the "most vain city" in the US. I'm going to find this book and read it because it sounds really good. Thanks for sharing!
Hals, This husband wife team have written several books. I don't always agree with their view points doctrinally, but that is to be expected... everything else, I feel, is right on. Currently Nate and I are listening to a marriage book they wrote called 'Love and War'. The husband John wrote a book called 'Wild at Heart'... several of my man friends have read it and been changed by it. happy reading to you.
I love your blog. I do love that book and I'm glad you hear you have women with whom you can dicuss such wonderful things with down under. THE VIDEOS OF YOU AND THE WALLABIES!!!! AMAMAMAMAMAMAAAAAZZZZINNNNGG!!! So amazing T!
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