Making Over the Soul

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.