#choosebeautiful

Dove just released a new commercial asking women to #choosebeautiful and it's striking a chord.

We place so much pressure on ourselves to look a certain way, dress a certain way, appear a certain way. Even after we do all of that how many of us would still choose the door marked "average"? I was thinking to myself what door would I choose and so many different scenarios played in my head.

In college I would have chosen beautiful. I was thin (without even trying), tan and living it up no worries with all my friends in San Diego.

As a pregnant person I would have chosen beautiful, because even though most days I felt like a whale I was still in awe that my body was growing a life. I felt good and those kicks and jabs only solidified that I was indeed beautiful.

As a new mom often (but not always) I would probably choose average - or perhaps try and find another entrance! So this made me think - why would I think of myself now as only average and my past selves as beautiful. And also if my past selves were my present self...would I still choose beautiful?

Then I got to think about my daughter and how I hope she never chose any other door than beautiful.

Where I see my chubby cheeks, she sees something soft to hold. Where I curse those extra pounds around my waist, my husband tells me I am sexy. Those lines around my eyes are earned with laughter and love because I am lucky to be surrounded by it. I am quite certain that beautiful has many different interpretations and for this I am grateful.

So today and everyday I am going to teach Presley and reteach myself to always

#choosebeautiful

I challenge you to do the same.

Well played Dove.