The little princess with the rose colored glasses

My daughter never ceases to amaze me.

Of course she is wonderful simply because she is my little girl, but there is one quality that I envy. You know that expression: "to see the world through rose colored glasses"?

Well, my little girl sees herself through pink glasses. And in her own eyes she is absolutely a princess. When passing a mirror she catches a glimpse of herself, and she'll stop and admire what she sees. No matter what she is wearing she'll be twirling and looking at herself from every angle with a content smile.

*

This summer we went to a street fair in Spain. Late at night there was a concert with hundreds of people watching a man play his guitar. Without any fear or intimidation my little girl stepped out in front of the crowd and DANCED! She dance and twirled with her eyes fixed on the stars and her hands lifted in the air. I watched with amazement.

But my favorite part was when the guitarist ended his song and the whole crowd started clapping and shouting. My daughter looked at the crowd with pride and smiled graciously as she gave a bow. To her she was the star of the show!

*

She is the center of her own universe and there is no doubt in her mind that she is beautiful.

Was I like her?

Did I use to feel like a princess?

Did I smile happily at my own reflection knowing that I was perfect?

Was I star in my own world?

*

A couple of weeks ago I found this old (and I do mean OLD!) picture and it hit me.

Yes, I used to feel like a princess too....

What happened?

When do little princesses stop feeling beautiful and start feeling inadequate?

Why do little princesses wake up one morning and look in the mirror with disgust?

Why does admiration turn to criticism?

Was it something somebody said?

Was it something somebody did?

Or was growing up the same thing as loosing those pink glasses?

*

I wish every little girl could grow up and know that she is perfect just the way she is. That she is beautiful and gifted and that she is the center of her universe.

*

So to all you princesses out there - let's put those pink glasses back on!

Let's dance with our eyes fixed on the stars.

Let's be proud of our achievements and receive the applause with a gracious bow.

Let's celebrate our beauty.

Let's take a look in the mirror - and smile!