The deeper business

Every girl knows that make up, heels and manicures are the key to beauty right? A great hair cut, a curvy body, a tan if we’re white or a lighter shade of pale if we’re dark. Straight hair if ours is curly, a blow wave if ours is straight.

In the words of Lupita Nyong’o at the Black Women in Hollywood lunch recently, we learn as girls that beauty is something we must acquire or consume, but true beauty is something we must just be.

Superficial beauty doesn’t sustain us, it taunts us relentlessly.

….’what is fundamentally beautiful , says Lupita, is compassion for yourself and those around you. That kind of beauty inflames the heart and enchants the soul. We remember the beauty of her spirit even though the beauty of her body has faded away. And so I hope that my presence on your screens and in magazines may lead you, young girl, on a similar journey. That you will feel the validation for your beauty, but also get to the deeper business of feeling beautiful inside’.

The deeper business.

Compassion for ourselves and others, generosity of spirit, loyalty.

When I think of the beautiful women in my life, I think of the strength of my mother, the humour of my grandmother, the firey determination of my daughter and the laughter and loyalty of my closest girlfriends.

I think of the resilience of every poor woman I have met and worked with in the developing world, the commitment of the Girls we work with to lift themselves out of poverty through education and hard work.

Superficial beauty doesn’t serve them in their quest, although they have beautiful faces and smiles that light up a room, the deeper business of their lives is found in the grit of breaking through the ceilings they live under.

We are coming up to the busiest season of the year and for a Girl & her world that means raising the funds to get 50 Girls back to school next year.

We’d love you to come to our December fundraising event if you’re in Sydney, or consider supporting our Girls from our Give or Shop page.

Real beauty is what we do are who we are for others…

Love you to connect with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram

Warmly,

Jane for team ‘a Girl & her world’

www.agirlandherworld.org