"...when will my Reflection show who I am inside?"

Hello everyone!

This is my second post in this blog and I am so excited to share with you all some thoughts and observations I have made recently. As some of you may know, one of my favorite Disney characters is the heroic and courageous Mulan, and I believe her song, Reflection, is one of the most tender and vulnerable pieces I have ever heard in a Disney Film.

 Here are the lyrics if you so wish to read:

REFLECTION:

"Look at me
I will never pass for a perfect bride
Or a perfect daughter
Can it be
I'm not meant to play this part.
Now I see
That if I were truly to be myself
I would break my family's heart.
Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me
Why is my reflection
Someone I don't know
Somehow I cannot hide
Who I am though I've tried
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside..
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside..."

I have sung this song many times to myself, sometimes without realizing just how powerful the lyrics are.Through music and rhyme, This young woman is revealing that she doesn't feel that her outward appearance matches who she truly is; For, An inner battle is silently taking place during this expression; a need to "play a part", fit a mold, and cover up the true identity that wishes to break free. On a personal level, I realize that so often I feel like Mulan. I so often feel a need to subdue my own heart, afraid of rejection or misunderstanding, or using cosmetics to mask the natural face i have, in a more literal sense. Being in the profession I have chosen, it can feel so important to keep up a certain image, whether it be through skincare, weight or hairstyle. It is so easy to fall into the trap of feeling "not good enough", "not pretty enough" or "not thin enough". But. I have realized that I am not alone in these feelings. I have met a numerous amount of women and men who share similar dreams and aspirations as I do, who have so many talents, beautiful hearts and gifts to offer to the world. And yet, they most often can relate to the insecurities I personally face in my own life. Where does true beauty lie? 

“No matter how plain a woman may be, if truth and honesty are written across her face, she will be beautiful.” 
― Eleanor Roosevelt

“Happiness and confidence are the prettiest things you can wear” 
― Taylor Swift

“Beauty is not who you are on the outside, it is the wisdom and time you gave away to save another struggling soul, like you.” 
― Shannon L. Alder

Through time and experience, I have realized that I feel most beautiful, when I am giving back to the world, more specifically, sharing a tender moment with a child when I arrive as their favorite princess. I do this in hope to.remind them that they are not alone. There have been certain events I have attended as a character, and the special bond that forms is absolutely priceless. As a child, I never met a Disney Princess, but I think that if Cinderella came to me and told me that I am beautiful, special and important, I would never forget those words.

Although I feel like Mulan in my daily life at times, I rarely feel that way when I am creating a magical world for a family, where hopes resides and thrives. I would love to hear other stories from my princess friends about the lives they have effected, because I truly believe that this job can be life changing. Through this self-acceptance and understanding of how blessed I am to be given an opportunity to channel light and love to those on a weekly basis, I am also learning to accept myself in my natural state as well. Of course, I still struggle with self image, and the desires to erase my freckles, blemishes and flaws, but I have found a support group who encourages one another to love themselves. My family, friends and social media followers/connections have all been incredibly loving and helpful on this journey. I would like to offer my own services of being a listening ear to anyone who may need it. You may email me: monicadanae@yahoo.com and I will try my best to lend advice if you are struggling, because we are all in this beautiful world together! I hope that whoever is reading this now, can remember just how valuable you are and how much you are loved. Despite the insecurites, fears or worries: You are Beautiful. You are beautiful with or without makeup, you are beautiful with or without perfect skin and you are beautiful to the world and through the eyes that look back at you in your own Reflection.

Thank you so much for reading and I look forward to hearing from any of you who may need some encouragement!

*****Monica