makeup,
n. cosmetics such as lipstick or powder applied to the
face, used to enhance or alter the appearance.
I
begin each day by putting on makeup.
If you have ever met me, or seen me up close, you will know that I do
not actually wear lipstick, blush, eyeshadow, or mascara. I do, however, wear many layers of what
I call, emotional makeup.
I
start with a solid foundation of confidence. I believe it is best to choose a shade of confidence that is
not much deeper than the shade that you naturally possess. I do not want to put forth an air of
complete confidence, for what if someone were to challenge it too harshly? It is only cosmetic after all. My goal is to establish that I have an
adequate amount of confidence. No
more, and certainly no less.
The
next step is the application of optimism on my eyelids. This is done so that when people look
at my eyes, they see a glimmer of hope.
I have deeply-set eyes, so there is not a lot of room for the eyeshadow,
but it is the most important step in the emotional beautification process. I fancy myself as an optimist, but
there are days when the belief that good will ultimately triumph over evil
seems to have set sail, slowly drifting away over the horizon. On days such as these I apply two
different shades, one for the hope in the present, and one for the hope in my
future. If it is a particularly
wonderful day, I may add a layer of shimmery bliss.
The
lips can be quite difficult. I
adorn my lips with a subtle shade of kindness. I find myself having to reapply this kindness many, many,
many times throughout the day.
There are the obvious culprits, eating and drinking, who slowly remove
the color, but there are other factors that contribute to the demise of kindness. The world we find ourselves living in can
be anything but kind, so I find it paramount to keep an extra tube of kindness
on your person at all times. There
are many times when it is difficult to reach or the moment is simply
inopportune, but I put more on as soon as I can. I am working on my own brand of kindness that acts more like
a lipstain.
I
conclude my emotional alteration by applying a layer of finishing powder known
more commonly as empathy. I am
sure you have heard the saying, “Never judge a man until you have walked a mile
in his shoes.” Boy, I wish that
were an actual practice in our society.
Could you imagine having to physically put on someone’s shoes and walk a
mile of their life for them? How
many grudges would never be held?
How many feuds would never ignite?
I
am not saying or admitting that I am not the person I purport to be. For when people use actual cosmetics,
they are still themselves…just enhanced.
The attributes, skills, talents, and capacities for confidence,
optimism, kindness, and empathy are already on my face. I simply enhance them in order to shine
brighter in this often arduous and unjust world. I also just want to be pretty, but I digress.
What
is the reason for this nonsensical journey through the Mac counter of the
soul? At a very base level, people
should focus more on their emotional appearance. We are incredibly complex creatures, often wonderful and
even magical. However, all of that
wonder and magic are too quickly stripped away by war, greed, jealousy,
insensitivity, and self-loathing.
The time to paint your soul is now. Let us stand together in a united front of beauty, justice,
hope, strength, compassion, and joy.
Maybe
you’re born with it…maybe it’s Maybelline.
