HAPPY, PRETTY, MESSY
Ok, I stole that title from a book I recently read and immensely enjoyed. The fun, clever, insightful and moving book are the words and experiences of Natalie Wise. The subtitle is Cultivating Beauty and Bravery When Life Gets Tough. Yep! I want some of that! As young as she is, some hard knocks and her natural inclination to nurture her passion for creativity have for sure given the sacred golden touch to her last name, as well as the title of the book.
I adore her captivating poem, and want to share it with you, and as you will see, perfectly describes a state of being that sparks joy in a woman, and makes me resolve that Happy, Pretty, Messy is the new “Puttin’ on the Ritz”
This is a good twirling dress, I declare And no one is too old for a twirl or a dramatic entrance On a sweeping set of stairs, like Princess Grace or Coco Chanel We are women who find beauty in the way a dress drapes In the way a handbag nestles in the crook of our arms We are women who do not shy away from Long marble hallways and high heels
I wear twirling dresses to the post office And to the thrift store where I hope to stumble across Gold-tinged champagne flutes and perhaps an antique Book with golden-edged pages or a globe with countries To dream of visiting to haul back treasures with memories attached Like barnacles to my sail-around-the-world houseboat
Do not be afraid to feel beautiful Because confidence is found there Do not hesitate to need love, darlings Because strength is found there Do not hesitate to dress yourselves with verve And joie de vivre, for this is the stuff that Chance and silver linings live for
When we look in mirrors I hope we see women Who live in light and walk on air and don’t care About the number someone called a size but rather the number Of smiles we can fit in a day and the breadth of our hearts Wrapped in the fabric of hope
Hemlines do not define our worth And the name on the label is no one I know I would much rather hear the name of the woman who wears The twirling dress with confidence Who speaks of knowing she is worthy
Seriously, what girl doesn’t love a flowy, twirly dress? If not wearing it, seeing it worn. There’s just something magical about it! I’ve never used that word to describe the delightful twirling feelings of confidence and beauty, but that’s it. Every time I put on a pretty, summer dress, I’m immersed in the feeling that never gets old, and yes, that I’m not too old. And while I used to never shy away from high heels, but now must be kinder to my feet, I still hold a love for them, staring at them in photos or gawking at them in a store. Especially now that yes, I do regretfully have to shy away from them more often than not if I know I will actually be walking or standing for any length of time. Of course, my voice of wisdom that has gotten louder as I get older has also made room for me to choose comfort along with the beauty and style, and puts me in that “Happy” zone, which truthfully has little to do with the exterior.
To me, as in the poem, it’s not about how I look, it’s about “not being afraid to feel beautiful” but mostly experiencing doing what I love. And, I’m unable in the moment, that’s where the Happy, Pretty, Messy comes in. I dream about it,the places I want to go and things I want to do, what I want to wear when I’m doing it. I can paint it, write about it.
I’ve come to realize that it’s all about what you want to feel. Live it, wear it, because “confidence is found there.” That is where we are defined by the “breadth of our hearts” and not what we look like or wear. Oh, yes, wear it – but it’s the fabric of the heart that sleeks and drapes, woven by the fabric of beauty, twirling in the magic and wonder of Happy, Pretty, Messy.
Puttin on the Ritz,
Ruthie
You can check out the book here