Look Good / Be Good

One thing that I've always envied about Southern girls is their ability to look put together, regardless of circumstance. Their hair is always done, their hands are always manicured, their makeup looks flawless, and there's no such thing as a bad outfit.

As someone who was prone to tying back her still-wet hair with chipped nails as she dashed out the door for work, leaving her mane to air-dry into uneven waves, I knew I had to start putting forth more of an effort on a day-to-day basis. So this past week, instead of pushing the snooze button for the fifth time, I found myself waking up at 6:30am to hop in the shower and start my morning routine.

I was amazed at my results. By giving myself just one more waking hour before work, I found I had the time to really put my best foot forward everyday. I had the time to touch up my nail polish and straighten my hair. I could really look at my outfit and decide if I need another bracelet or a belt of a different necklace.  I had a real breakfast that wasn't in front of my work computer, and I could catch up on current events (read: Facebook and Twitter) from the comfort of my own home.

Starting your day in a frenzy affects the rest of it. When we feel rushed, we get stressed, and quality suffers. Not that Southerners are immune to stress (my Southern friends are some of the hardest working people I know here), just that they know how to conceal the hurricane swirling beneath the surface. This week was strange, for a number of reasons, but I refused to let that show through my appearance. What business it is of strangers to know that I am anything other than content?

My new mantra is to look good and be good. It's funny how those two things can make you feel so good, too.