Being A Spiritual Woman in the Suburbs

By Christine Rose © 2009

Part 1

Have you ever really thought about what it means to be a woman in the suburbs? Have you thought about the toll it takes on you spiritually?

A friend called me up yesterday. She is very attractive, 46 years old, 5’2”, weighs about 100 pounds, huge boobs, long, lush black curls…and she says to me, “I feel fat and ugly and old and dumpy.” Wow. How does she think the rest of us look?

I told her that I remember feeling like that, but that I no longer do. I am 56 years old, and I have come to the clear conclusion that my gorgeous days are over. So I asked her, “Do you think you really look that bad or are you looking at yourself the way you think other people look at you?” She said, “Yeah, that’s true. Although I would still like to look like I did at 35.” Well, who wouldn’t, but the clock ticks, you know?

Do you remember when you were a little girl and your mother said, “It doesn’t matter what you look like on the outside, it’s the inside that counts.” My mother also used to throw in, “Pretty is as pretty does.” So let me ask you. If that’s true, why don’t the mechanics have pictures of Mother Teresa on their garage walls? Clearly there is a discrepancy on the definition of the word, Pretty.

In this day and age of completely liberated women who can hold any job they want, I wonder why middle-aged, menopausal women still concern themselves with how they look in lingerie? The reason, my friends, is because we have not only let the media define us, but we have let men define us. Yes, we have LET them. The reason for this is because it feels nice when they tell us we look good and sadly, nothing else in society makes us feel particularly wonderful about being a Woman.

There is a point in our early female adolescence where hormones for attracting a mate are in full swing. Every pert body part is ready to bounce into action to make the boys look twice. It is really hard today to get young girls to understand that looking like a steak to a starving man is not always the best way to find a lasting mate. But it should be much easier to help a middle aged woman, who is coming into her wisdom years, to understand that letting go of those youthful gorgeous glory days will be a relief! Yes! Thats really true! You just have to understand that losing your youthful skin is only a trade-off for something much more lasting and magnificent.

When we define ourselves by our exteriors, we neglect the interior. In fact, most people don't give their interiors much thought at all. We can be good people or bad people, but if we are physically beautiful people, that is what makes us stand out in the crowd. In most cases, we completely ignore the reasons we are on earth. Oh, yeah! There really are reasons why we are here, eternal reasons. And while our attractiveness is not eternal, we have these things called, souls, or spirits, and they very much are. Developing our eternal perspective changes absolutely everything about life. Every offense, every failing, every struggle, every challenge, they all have meaning and will raise us up to the point where we will be worthy of the next place we go.

Taking an eternal perspective into consideration, we can now look back at the calendars hanging in the garages of men, and recognize that what they are lusting after is nothing but a walnut shell. Wouldn't it be nice if the nut of us all really were Mother Teresa?

Women, take back your image and YOU decide who you are, be the creator of your own worth...with your actions! How much money do you spend on your hair, make-up, clothing, shoes? How much time do you devote to becoming a more spiritual being?

You may well ask, But why? Who cares if I am spiritual? I look so fabulous!

If what you really wants is achievable peace and contentment then sooner or later, you are going to consider another way of life. Imagine those are the riches you seek, right here on earth.  Vanity causes 
* chaos (countless marriages fail because one insecure partner falls for the flattery of a seducer)
* heartache (Mirror, mirror, on the wall, how much do I have to spend to be the fairest one of all), 
* disappointment (We are not invisible just because we are no longer young! Respect our years, and the wisdom we have earned!)
* very high credit card bills ('nuff said!).

Seeking peace and acceptance of your appearance, celebrating the smile lines as earned credits for the afterlife, valuing the years gone by for their wealth of experiences, relishing each day as an opportunity to better the world...you know, its all much cheaper, and a lot more soul fulfilling, then having your face removed, stretched like a canvas, and sewn back on.

Join me in resisting the media and the malls that live to make you feel bad about yourself so you will spend more money. Thumb your nose at them and say, I am perfect, just the way I am! Then live as if you mean it.