Sunday, January 3, 2016

Day 3- Pressures to be "Perfect"

Today my nails are chipped. And that's ok. The world keeps turning.
Today I want to talk about the pressure to be put together and perfect 24/7. I think this is a pressure that many women feel, but I especially started feeling it when my following started to grow. Being stopped on the street for pictures made me start to think "Oh God! What if I haven't plucked my eyebrows or I have a giant pimple and someone posts a photo of me! Gasp!" I spent a few years making sure that I was perfectly coifed every time I left the house. Even if I was just running to the post office. Just in case.
Then I started going to the gym regularly. And this cycle became more difficult and more stressful. The first time I was asked for a photo at the gym, I felt like I was having a panic attack. WHAT WOULD PEOPLE THINK?? But I will never be the asshole that refuses a picture for my own insecurities so I did it. And no one said a dang thing. And my life kept right on trucking.
One day I realized that I can't sacrifice fun things and my own health just to be pretty all of the time. Seriously. How dumb is that? If girls want to gossip and say that I am not as pretty in real life... well then, so be it. I would rather girls say that I am really nice when they gossip. And they WILL gossip. It takes a lot of work to be put together all of the time. And that work takes a lot of time. And that is time that could be spent cuddling my husband, or reading a great book, or cooking a delicious meal, or working on my fitness.
Not to say that I don't like to be "pretty"-- I do! And I still love slaving over my face to look like a perfect pinup. But I just don't feel like I HAVE to. And that's a pretty awesome feeling.

29 comments:

  1. Not as pretty in real life...bah! Anyone who says this has clearly never seen you in real life! I think there's too much pressure on women in general to look pulled together 24/7 it's good to have a 'normal' day. Life's too short! Xxx

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    1. Hahah well thanks! I definitely value my "normal" days!

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  2. I think you look lovely, no matter what. With, or without make up people can see that you're a lovely person, and I'm really happy for you that you don't feel like you have to be perfectly made-up all the time now. Your happiness and well-being is the most important, no matter what! :)

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  3. I always feel like so many pin up/vintage people are always put together and that I feel like I need to be the same wearing vintage, to be like the women back then...but I never seem to manage. I wish that more vintage people would post pictures in sweats, make up less or on a bad hair day to show that they're not always perfectly in place...

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    1. I feel the same!! I actually WANT to see girls like that being human sometimes. Haha.

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    2. I know I'm way tardy to this comment party, but I just found out this new blog existed like two seconds ago. As someone who is pretty much all thumbs when it comes to makeup and hair, and can't quite seem to make it work for me the way it does in tutorials, it's a huge comfort to see barefaced/gym selfies. When I see those pics, I feel like 'oh yeah, these are just people trying to live their life in the way that makes them feel happy, strong, and beautiful, and they're just further along in the hair/makeup journey than I am.' It makes it feel more like a lifestyle and less like something unattainable that only exists in the world of professional photoshoots, if that makes any sense.

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  4. You are younger than I am, and I am here to tell you that you inspire me at 40 years young to keep looking in my mirror when there are many days when I feel like I should hide under a rock.

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  5. 24/7 pinup is unrealistic most of us have 'real' jobs in my case scrubs where I usually come in contact someone else's yuckiness blood urine vomit etc...after a 12 hour day my makeup is less then ideal LOL but I managed to help someone through a difficult MRI and that my friends is better then looking perfect because I'm being a pretty perfect human being:)

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  6. It's okay to go out without makeup and hair not done. Just like you said, rather have girls say that you are really nice when they gossip. ;) Let them talk bad if they want. Love yourself and be a beautiful person on the inside, and you'll look beautiful on the outside, no matter what. :)

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  7. I think that if someone is perfect all the time, people will know that's just an image chosen to present in public and, as such, it isn't (or is just partially) real. I appreciate much more a person who shows his/hers real-self besides his/hers created-self. The two things are not mutually exclusive (:

    I'm really looking forward to your personal posts. Greetings from Poland!(:

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  8. Honestly,i sure liked you on first sight because of your look. But you know what, there are so many pretty gals out there,but you're the only one, I would love to have a cup of tea with,because you are the way you are! ❤

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  9. Real trumps pretty every time xo

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  10. You are beautiful! I know what it's like to put my makeup on everyday so people won't stare at,my facial scar now. But after our conversations and all the wonderful comments your friends sent my way....I left the house for the first time without makeup (except my eyes ;)
    You are absolutely adorable no matter what!!!

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    1. Good for you!! I feel like a proud mama bird. :)

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  11. You are beautiful! I know what it's like to put my makeup on everyday so people won't stare at,my facial scar now. But after our conversations and all the wonderful comments your friends sent my way....I left the house for the first time without makeup (except my eyes ;)
    You are absolutely adorable no matter what!!!

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  12. The pressure is REAL! Every woman can relate to today's blog. Being beautiful comes from inside and that glows pours out of our smiles. Love the blog and I look forward to the Real Cherry!

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  13. I think your love of vintage, confidence and positivity inspires women not just your appearance. Your beauty radiates from within. If your life is taking you on different paths then embrace them and follow them. I feel women need to see you as an inspiration (and your an amazing one��) not an idol. Your a human being who's growing as we all do, feel free to spread your wings where they take you and do not feel guilty about running your own life. People and fans may come and go but your with you for a long time. Make it awesome for you and your husband ❤️❤️

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    1. Ps... Those ?? were ❤️❤️ when I typed them 🤓

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    2. I would absolutely much rather be an inspiration than an idol. An idol comes with so much pressure! haha

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  14. Hi! I found you on youtube and I love watching your videos. You're so beautiful inside and out, and I love this blog. It annoys me that nowadays everyone and everything should be just perfect and nothing less. Instagram perfect or pinterest perfect. I'm not saying I don't enjoy watching those perfect pics :D it's so refreshing to see someone embracing imperfections and encouraging others to do so too. I am a perfectionist myself but I still think imperfections make everything more interesting.

    PS. I love this new layout! But I must say the "contact" section looked a bit unfinished :D

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  15. You are beautiful and talented, but I don't think that is why you have so many followers. You have such a lovely demeanor. Your kind heart is what really makes you beautiful. I hate when people bash celebrities for not looking like they have just walked off of the set at all times. They are human, and so are you. I know I don't wear makeup every day. I'm sure that I look a lot different when I am all dolled up.

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  16. This really hit home with me. Thank you!

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  17. Thanks for speaking on this matter, Cherry. I was always okay with going out in public without my makeup but I had a lot of female acquaintances who didn't feel that was the norm. Not that they told me that I needed to paint my face, but that they couldn't leave home without having done their hair and makeup. I started questioning myself, whether or not that I was pretty, or if I should be doing my hair and makeup all the time. Now, I do love hair and makeup, but I am also comfortable being fresh faced. Loving your blog challenge :-)

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  18. I just finished reading Dita Von Teese's Beauty Mark book...and she basically says you have no excuse not to wake up a little earlier and spend 10 minutes putting yourself together. Swipe on red lipstick, put your hair in a chignon, throw on vintage style sunglasses and you're set. Am I wrong to disagree with her? I'd rather spend that time in bed, lol! I put some lip balm on cuz I hate the feeling of dry lips, make sure my face as some kind of SPF and I go. If we're talking about the post office & stuff. Of course going out, I love to glam to the max!! But for everyday, I completely agree with you Cherry. I love you!

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    1. Since when does that take 10 minutes? Haha. I think to each her own... but some days I just don't care about being put together and those extra 10 minutes snuggling in bed with my husband are worth more!

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  19. I saw a post on Pinterest that said "Girls tear each other down. Women empower each other." Don't worry about the opinions of people who are immature and small. Just live your life doing what makes you happy. "Those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." :)

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Thank you so much for stopping by! Please be nice and kind with your words even if you have something to criticize. I am trying to answer to as many questions as possible but please have some understanding that I cannot answer to all of you. XOXO