Pink Heart

On the way to work this morning I hit the biggest pothole --crater in the earth actually, on the freeway and it sounded like my wheel popped up to San Francisco.  Living in Los Angeles, there's no getting around potholes but this one I'm sure you can see from space. Anyway, my point is, this got me in an even worse mood as I had already been sitting in traffic for over an hour and hadn't sleept at all the night before! Very Glamorous I know. It happens.  Then, I started thinking about a woman who had e-mailed me named Jackie. She does outreach for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance and had asked me if she could write a short article for my readers about cancer and still feeling beautiful.  I thought, today is the perfect day to share her article. Here I am feeling saucy over traffic and a pothole and this is just what I need to refocus. I hope whatever you face today, this story will encourage you to feel beautiful too. xx -Taj

Feeling Beautiful Doesn't Have to End because of Cancer

By: Jackie Clark
Beauty is more than a narrowly defined term dealing with the aesthetic senses. It is a feeling. It is a motivator. It is power. Beauty for women creates confidence to face each day. Beauty gives women the strength to walk out the door and tackle the problems and issues that may arise. However, for those recently diagnosed with cancer, feeling beautiful can be a difficult, though not impossible a task. Women struggling to find their inner strength and confidence can use fashion as a means to an end.
Every woman knows how it feels to slip on a dress that compliments the body perfectly or wear an eyeshadow that seems to highlight and brighten the eyes. It is intoxicating and invigorating. There is more than one reason why shopaholics find fashion to be a sort of therapy. Looking great usually translates to feeling great. It translates to confidence and excitement to leave the house and turn heads. Too often women diagnosed with cancer want to hide themselves always as if they have some reason to be ashamed. There is no shame in being a fighter, in being a strong, independent and beautiful woman.
Mesothelioma, which is caused by asbestos exposure, is but one form of cancer women may face. In the past, the prognosis for mesothelioma patients was bleak, but there have been significant strides in treatment during recent years.  Finding ways to feel beautiful during treatments like mesothelioma is absolutely essential if patients wish to enjoy a high quality of life.
While cancer may alter certain physical features, fashion can be used as a means to circumvent these effects. Find something you love about yourself and accent it. This can be done with a form-fitting shirt to show off a slim figure. A pair of pants can be used to accent long legs. A new pair of shoes can be used as a way to draw attention away from areas you may not be so thrilled about. While the exterior plays a rather significant role in a woman's perception of herself, beauty starts from the inside. Focus on what you love about yourself and don't let go. Cancer may be able to affect and alter a number of things, but it can't take away a person's inner beauty.

Thanks for the advice Jackie!