Hey Pretty Woman!
Tonight I went to the gym late, but I did go.
When I got there my friend, the receptionist, right away said, “Your hair?”…oh no, that noticable? She said it looked good. She is 20…so I guess that is a compliment.
She started telling me about her NEW love interest…it seemed that just the other day she was telling me about her fiance’. We somehow turned the conversation to her tatoos…she has 5 and multiple peircings too… she showed me her belly button one…and how she can pull on the one in her tongue and it doesn’t hurt.
She wanted to chat, so I said, come hang out with me while I work out.
This new man in her life is 28…and just broke up with his girlfriend that he used to live with…she filled me in on all of it. Evidently he is a real hunk…
But then she said, “see that guy over there, he is kinda cute isn’t he…the one in the black hat?” He was staring at her and she blushed and then laughed.
Her mind went back to the new guy, then she realized that she had left her phone at the front desk and took off running to get it, because he said he might call her.
As she was gone I turned on the TV and what was on the screen…but Pretty Woman, the movie. It was the scene where she got to go shopping, and buy all those clothes…and then walk back in to the one shop that was so rude to her and say, “Big Mistake.” She looked so confident…and polished. Proud.
My friend came back and she pulled up a pic of him on her cell phone and showed me. Yes he was cute…in a cocky arrogant sorta way. While she was on her myspace she said, gross, “my dad’s mood is “horny”…I did not need to see that. ” I was just listening…and looking at her. She is so beautiful. I mean gorgeous. Long dark hair, dark eyes with long lashes, a beautiful petite size 1 body…and young olive skin. So pretty!!!! I was listening to her, and thinking…does she know how incredibly beautiful she is?
I asked, “Do the men flirt with you all the time here?” She said, “You don’t even know.”
But I do, or I should say I did. I was her in my 20’s always looking for that next boyfriend, throwing myself at men. Letting them use me and discard me. I had no self esteem…although now I see I was beautiful. People would tell me all the time. I remember thinking…I wish they would stop saying that. I didn’t believe it.
She talked some more about all the partying she had been doing, but trying to quit smoking and how she is already having sex with this new guy…and about all the men she has been out with since she broke up with her fiance in March (but they were together when I started going there in May)…
Just looked at her and listened. Wanted to scream…stop it, stop it!!!! Do you know how incredibly beautiful you are and that you do not have to do this. There is a Man that will love you perfectly. Do not give yourself away to these men!!!!
But I couldn’t, I just listened.
She went back to the desk and I started watching the movie again. I started crying. It was the part where he and she are laying in bed, being real and talking, and she is telling him how she became a hooker, and how she had low self esteem.
Vivian: People put you down enough, you start to believe it.
Edward Lewis: I think you are a very bright, very special woman.
Vivian: The bad stuff is easier to believe. You ever notice that?
I remembered years ago, going to counseling after I had given my life to the Lord, and my counselor said to me. I want you to watch Pretty Woman and come back and tell me what she realised. I watched it, and I cried. I bawled. I wept. I realized that she always was that Pretty Woman…she just didn’t know it. She had something valuable to give that man. I remember the last part when he wanted to keep her as a side thing,
Vivian: When I was a little girl, my mama used to lock me in the attic when I was bad, which was pretty often. And I would- I would pretend I was a princess… trapped in a tower by a wicked queen. And then suddenly this knight… on a white horse with these colors flying would come charging up and draw his sword. And I would wave. And he would climb up the tower and rescue me. But never in all the time… that I had this dream did the knight say to me, “Come on, baby, I’ll put you up in a great condo.”
Finally, she had realised how valuable she was and she said, “no, I want it all.” Because for the first time in a long time she had self worth! His love had shown her who she really was.
I finished my workout and waited until the young man with the black hat left…and I walked her out. I wish I could take her shopping and to the opera. I wish I could shower her with the same Love that washed away all my sins. The stains that men left behind. I wished she could have just one drink from His water so she would never thirst again. But we just got in our cars…then she asked me if I had a lighter…I said “no…and don’t you stop by the gas station on the way home either.” She said ok with a giggle, then we started our cars and drove away.
See you later pretty woman!
You know I love butterflies right…well…as I am writing this…I am listening to the tv Christian music channel…and guess what just came on…”Butterfly Kisses”. Don’t tell me there isn’t a God and He doesn’t care about each and everyone of us!? The line in the chorus: “Precious butterfly, spread your wings and fly.” Read my last blog and you will see how amazing this is. I wrote that hours ago!
What a beautiful post! It really is easier to believe bad things about ourselves…I know it is for me. Why though? I don’t get it? You know darn well God has put you in this young woman’s life for a reason and I think you’re going to rub off on her and let His light shine through you to influence her. You are planting seeds!!! :o)
You know I love butterflies right…well…as I am writing this…I am listening to the tv Christian music channel…and guess what just came on…”Butterfly Kisses”. Don’t tell me there isn’t a God and He doesn’t care about each and everyone of us!? The line in the chorus: “Precious butterfly, spread your wings and fly.”
I love Pretty Woman and I know many girls like the one you describe and in fact, I too see what they don’t…don’t know if age has made me wiser or if by standing on the sidelines I can see the pathetic circumstances! Be at as it may, I have also learned that some women never learn and they continue to live in their destructive ways. You know there is no worst blind than the one who refuses to see, or so the saying goes.
Kudos to you for exercising!! I need to get into a routine—and soon!!
I love this blog! I have often wondered if young people could know what we know and have the benefit of our experience would they change the path that they are on? I am not sure…would I have if someone had tried to tell me?
I think that they did and I think I thought I knew better…the ignorance of youth…
Fortunately God is everloving….and he gives us chance and opportunity to right our wrongs and the blood of His Son washes away all that nonsense…
You may never know the impact something as simple as prayer may have on someone…
That is true! I am praying for my her…pray with me:) Freedom to Fly!
I am a young person… and I think… well I think alot of times we dont here that we are pretty enough by the people who really matter. Not personally but I have friends who are much like that girl at the gym… they dont get told how beautiful and fabulous they are by real genuine people like us… so they look for people who tell them they are sexy and hot. I wish there was more sensitive beautiful people like you out there! Because if all of us knew how trully beautiful people saw us… think of how we could be!
Your blog made me cry. I just started on this site and it was the first thing I came across. Thank You.
awe, that’s such a beautiful blog and such a warm and yet sad story. i love the image of you realizing you were always beautiful and you reflecting that to this young woman. maybe she will see it, too, and think of you. you are so very sweet and kind. the woman above just wrote some really great words as well.
Ok getting on this site and reading blogs IS NOT SUPPOSED TO MAKE ME CRY! well it is if its about you and things you dont wanna face. I am that girl that uses sex and attention to feel better about myself which of course makes me feel worse which drives me to eat which drives me to let men use me inappropriately to feel better blah blah and so on and so on. damnit!!!
ok I am having a pity party wanna bring cupcakes??
actually I think I am improving on this. Recognizing my behavior is the first step. now I am taking more steps -even if they are very small on my tippy toes.
I cry all the time, it is nothing to be ashamed of. You will be free and fly again!!!
You know, i Never thought i was beautiful as a teen/young adult — my dad would tell me and i would think, “you’re my dad, you’re supposed to say that…” guys started telling me and i was shocked and although totally innocent wondered what they were after.
The difference for me was knowing that my Dad and my Heavenly Father loved me — if you don’t have the first, it must be difficult to understand the second — this all has recently come to my attention too and i want to find a way to reach little girls before they get to this point!! Every girl should feel like a beloved princess!!
Great blog Chrisie…and more importantly, for looking so deeply into a stranger. I am the same way, I want to help everyone. Another thing…your new “do” looks fantastic on you!…I’ll bet your hubby loved it!
This is such a wonderful post, girlfriend - made me think about so much stuff, thank you so much!
What a special, unique kind of person you are. What would buddyslim do without you, butterfly girl?
Happy Happy weekend to you!!
Hubby did like it, but wants it even lighter…can I go there???
Absolutely wonderful blog, Chrisie! I think all young women should read it! It would be so nice for them to see they are not alone.
Tammy
Thanks for a thoughtful blog.
You can go anywhere with your hair colorwise and style. Improvise and take risks.
I think that I will probably go lighter…might as well…I have come this far! Take risks!
thanks everyone for your very sweet comments! I cried so hard when I wrote this last night…so much of me in it! and I guess…from the comments, I wasn’t alone!!
Blessings!