Beautiful. We throw that word around a lot. Misuse it, over use it, and use it too casually. We often proclaim many things as beautiful: sunsets, mountain peaks, smiling babies, cars, and women. We most generally use it to describe things we can see.

What does it really mean? What is the difference between beautiful, lovely, handsome, pretty and fair?

Beautiful: having qualities that excite sensuous, emotional or aesthetic pleasure
Lovely: emotional excitement relating to the graceful, delicate or exquisite
Handsome: approval of what conforms to the standard for symmetry
Pretty: immediate but superficial impression of attractiveness
Fair: beauty because of purity, flawlessness or freshness

Does your physical being fit these words? How would your friends describe you using any of these words? Try again only this time, discount your body. Use these words to open up a discussion of who you really are: inner being qualities that mirror your soul.

As women, we often have a difficult time in really seeing ourselves for who we are. Society has tried to mold us into attractive bodies, comparing us to role models that no one can emulate. Forcing us into cultural norms that stifle our creativity, they drive us backwards in time and blame societies ills on women who do not conform to the ideas of what men think we ought to be and do. They try to make us invisible, discount our worth, and sometimes just erase us from existence.

It never seems to be enough. We are either too much or too little. Too early or too late. Too much like men, not enough like men.

Let's stop this madness. As PRIDE weekend begins, remember that you are a beautiful woman no matter your size, education level, social status or religious affiliation. Close your eyes and do not look at yourself through your vision, but see yourself as the mirror sees you: fairest of them all.

		I am as my Creator made me, and since S/He is satisfied,
		so am I.                                   -Minnie Smith