Last weekend I was at a mother-daughter brunch, sipping coffee and bonding with fellow moms over a very important topic: our smart and stunning 16-year-old daughters—and how we definitely did not look like that in the 90s. We were definitely more “awkward stage” than “Instagram model.”
We laughed about how we’re always so hard on ourselves. One mom said, “Every day I wish I looked like I did yesterday.” And we all nodded, because—yep, same. Why do we postpone confidence?
Here’s the truth we shared with our girls (and needed to hear ourselves):
You’re beautiful now.
Not five pounds from now.
Not when your arms are more toned.
Not after your next makeup haul or fitness streak.
Now.
Now is the time to embrace who you are. To show pride in your story, your strength, your smile, your soul. Now is the time to celebrate your real, radiant, one-of-a-kind self—because future You will always look back on today and think, “Wow. I was beautiful. Why didn’t I see it?”
We have to remind our daughters this…and ourselves.
And the best part? Tomorrow is a new now. You were beautiful then, you are beautiful today, and you'll be beautiful tomorrow. Others see it, why don't we see this truth for ourselves?
So if you’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to get your portraits done… stop. The perfect moment is now. Your future self will thank you.
Let’s capture that beauty together. Now.
Here's a photo that was taken at the brunch. After that conversation, I saw this photo and nonetheless, thought to myself, "wow I look tired". But you know what? I'm glad I have this photo because it reminds me of a lovely morning with my daughter, her friends and their moms, laughter over bacon...it's a memory I want to preserve. Besides, tomorrow I'll be even more tired!