The Secrets of Attractiveness

“For attractive lips, speak words of kindness, For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people, For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry, For Beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day, For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and the other for helping others.”-Audrey Hepburn

I love this quote by the lovely Miss Hepburn, because as much as I believe in treating yourself well, I believe it is equally important to share that love with others. Service, to those you love, or total strangers, helps to build your strength, and appreciation for what you have even more. It takes you out of any current obsession you might have with your body or food, and brings you back to the bigger picture. It’s hard to worry about the shape of your thighs when they are helping you carry huge crates of donated food in a soup kitchen. Worries about jiggling arms disappear when you are hugging a crying friend. So while we make 2011 a year of self-care, let’s also think about those who made need our help a little. If you need some jumping off points start here:

· Donate a few hours a week to a local children’s hospital

· Bag donations at a food shelter

· Volunteer on a suicide or eating disorder hotline

· Play with abandoned animals at your local shelter

· Offer to listen to a friend who may be struggling right now

By caring for others I hope that you will also learn how to care for yourself. Here’s to self-discovery through service.

Have you ever found that volunteering helps to boost your self-esteem and self-confidence?