Turn Your Face To The Sun by Maithri Goonetilleke

There are days when nothing seems right. When every shell you pick up on the winding shore is broken. When the silken treasure slips through your fingers too quickly. When comforts are empty. And the world is noise.

On those jagged edged days, when the wind is screaming for a reason only she understands. And you find yourself all alone.Turn your face to the sun.

There is goodness in the world, that even the river of tears cannot erase. There is love in the world, that the numbed armies of fear can not destroy.

Sometimes that goodness is everywhere apparent. It pours from the heart of every moment. From the light of every smile. On those soft days, love hides in the eaves to drop like sweet honey on your forehead and sings her lilting lullabies in the arms of the winds.

But on some days, Beloved. On days like today....We need to look, to see. So turn your face to the sun. Even when she is nowhere to be seen. Go inside yourself. Find a speck, a splinter of beauty to be grateful for. 'Yes', the day has worn you. And 'Yes' our mistakes have been so many.

But say 'Thank you' anyway. Take account of all that is in your possession. A mind. A heart. A body. A life that breathes, even if for just one more day. Now count the eyes that have smiled at you on your wild journey, the hands that have held you tenderly, the ears that have listened, the prayers that have been made on your behalf.

And whisper your 'Thank you' again. Count the sky that has watched you grow with His painted eyes, The heaving waves that find their echo in the tides of your breathing, The little birds that have sung you their songs, The stars which have been a lamp to your path, and are your rightful inheritance.

Count unexpected laughter, Count undeserved grace, Count Passion and Love making and Dreams yet to be born, And bow your head and say 'thank you', Now count the lives who still need your light, The hungry, the sick, the helpless, Count the children who will die today and imagine if with the breath of your body you could help just one.

Turn your face to the sun, And know yourself as a child of the light. You are the Goodness that cannot be extinguished, The love that burns through the darkest night.

And perhaps, In turning You will see what I have seen, that this day where everything seemed wrong, was not your curse, It was your gift, Your chance...

To find inside yourself a forgotten 'thank you', To smile in the face of the grim suppressors, To stand in the heart of the glowering darkness and turn your face to the sun.

Wearing: UO Top, H&M Skirt, Sam Edelman Platforms, Tory Burch Sunnies, Aldo Clutch

I apologize for the lack of posts G(em)s. I found this beautiful poem and I had to share it. Inspiring words like these are what keep me on track when life takes a toll. When everything seems so wrong and all you  want is for your life to fall into place perfectly again. All you have to remember is that it Will, and keeping a positive attitude will get you to that place even faster.

Hope you all have a wonderful Day!!!

Love,

Opal <3333

Fashion for Every Woman By Jackie Clark

Women are often chided for wanting to be beautiful, but the truth of the matter is that beauty and fashion are just alternate forms of taking care of yourself. Beauty means that you are healthy, happy and in control, and these are the things that a prognosis of a serious illness like mesothelioma or uterine cancer tries to take away from you.    

If you have been doing the grim round of doctors, or even if your treatment is over and you want to get back to your life, it can be hard to take care of yourself the way that you would like. When you are feeling a bit at a loss, see how beauty and fashion can affect the way that you live.

For example, think about accessories. Accessories are small and manageable, and you’ll discover that it takes very few of them to dress up a common or plain outfit. If you want to start small with beauty, accessories are definitely the way for you to go. 

Start with a scarf that you truly love. A good scarf is one that has a bit of color and detail, and which goes with many different things in your wardrobe. When you want a glam fifties look, tie it around your wrist. If you need a little bit of color on your person, wear it as a belt.    

A scarf threaded through the belt loops on a pair of jeans looks wonderfully bohemian. Loop the scarf around your neck or even use it to tie back your hair. The possibilities for a simple rectangle cloth are immense.    

Remember that you should start with a good foundation of garments. There are garments that are so wonderfully versatile that you can customize them to any effect that you want. While many designers suggest that you build off of the color black, others recommend that you start with a range of colors that you love.    

For example, if you are someone who adores earth tones, make sure that you have a good selection of garments that are brown, warm gray or cream. 

Similarly, if you prefer natural tones, choose your garments by selecting cool greens and blues. A small amount of planning before you head to the mall can help you create a very solid look. 

Choose clothes that make you happy both when you wear them and when you look at them. Clothes let you add your imprint to the world, and if you choose carefully, you can make that imprint look very personal indeed. 

Think about the colors that express who you are, and design an outfit that only you could wear. Emphasize your best traits by selecting things that are suited to your tastes and leave behind anything that isn’t perfect. Remember that if you don't love it, you don't need it!

If you are ready to reclaim the person you are, or even to figure out who you want to be, consider your clothing. Fashion is a tool, and you are ready to use it!    

wearing: Peplum Top: H&M, High Waisted Jeans: American Apparel, Platform Sandals: L.A.M.B, Clutch: ALDO, Watch: Michael Kors

I had the pleasure of being contacted by Jackie Clark, the author of this article, who does outreach for  the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance, a leading web resource for mesothelioma cancer. She has always had a passion for fashion-from shoes to makeup, nail polish to handbags, and everything in between! Coupled with that is her belief that all women need to feel beautiful, no matter what circumstances they may be facing. Women are powerful beings and WE need to realize it! Sadly, many women are hearing those devastating words 'you have cancer.' Despite a cancer diagnosis, women can still feel beautiful in their own skin. Jackie believes that Fashion is a wonderful way to feel strong and confident. I agree with her wholeheartedly. She is an inspiration to many women who lack the confidence they need. You can ALL check out her other inspiring writings HERE!!

HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY!!!

~Opal-