As has become customary over the last two years when going through my morning routine, I ask myself, “Am I going out of the house today?  In other words, will I be seeing anyone? Or rather…will I ‘be seen’ by anyone” which translates into “Do I need to put my best face forward using makeup?”

Before this pandemic, that was never a question, ‘primping’ was a given.  Not seeing anyone day after day, however, has encouraged a more, shall we say, ‘natural look.’  Do I like this?  Yes and no.  I like the ease of preparation and gaining the extra few minutes.  BUT I don’t like what I see when occasionally glancing in the mirror throughout the day and I wonder if my husband notices.  By far, the most disconcerting, is that I’ve gotten out of the habit of putting a smile on my face!  

I’ve long known that a smile is not just an accessory but a necessity for me to feel my best.  Yet, spending so much time alone and not having too many people to share it with has gotten me out of the practice of wearing one altogether!  How sad, I reflect to myself.  I had just recently shared with a friend that even though I’m not someone who depresses easily, I’ve been feeling kind of ‘flat’ these days…like I lost my “Joi-de-vivre.”  While certainly understandable, I ponder what I can do about it.  

Connecting with other people brings me joy.  However, that has been pretty limited lately.  The balance between time alone and time with others has become off-kilter.  I’ve been wrapped up in my own little world and have become a little work machine…doing, doing, doing

I must be more intentional about bringing joy into my life!  There is power in a joyful spirit and that has always been part of my being…until now.  Besides the Covid pandemic, what else has changed, I ask myself?

At first glance, I quickly dismiss the skipped ‘primping’ step as anything of significance.  However, if I start each day feeling physically at my best, wouldn’t’ that be a step in the right direction??  Since every part of me is interconnected, isn’t it possible that it could have at least a small impact in the right direction?  It’s certainly worth a try.

So out comes the makeup once again, even when I’m not ‘seeing’ anyone and vice-versa, “I” am still seeing myself.  Relegating its daily use to a ‘non-essential’ during this time of isolation was…unintentional neglect?  I have long understood that there is magic in wearing even a little bit of makeup.  I’m noticing my spirits rise.  And probably because I am more mindful of my state of joy, I am cultivating other little opportunities when they present themselves.  

This makes me realize that something as seemingly vain or materialistic as makeup has its place in the realm of the spiritual after all.  When I see myself in a better light and as more empowered, that is what I manifest in my life and that engenders a better disposition.  So, makeup, it turns out, can be a catalyst for good…I knew that!

~Zanne
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