Reena was an accomplished woman in early forties with a successful career graph and educational qualification from top universities. She was a simple and talented woman who always knew how to interact with the business and stakeholders. She had even lost the count of awards and appreciation she had received during the university courses and professional life. She had two beautiful daughters and loving husband that comprised her family. She was rather a perfect example on how she balanced between work and family devoting sufficient time and ignoring none.
Everything appeared to be moving smooth but something was bothering her that made her worry. It was comments from few of her co-workers, friends and family circle, about her looks and appearance. Though, she smiled and ignored while listening, she did take it to her heart.
During her twenties, she was slim, stunning woman and anyone would go ga-ga over her smile and beauty. As she married and took over family way, she gained pounds of weight post delivery. She devoted most of her time with her kids and responding to their needs and ran out of time dressing herself or spending time in gym. She no longer fit in the waist 28 trousers, had to wear ill fitting clothes and had a prominent double chin and grey hair.
Reena looked herself in the mirror and lost in thoughts of her own self, how she was a decade earlier and what she is today. What hurt her the most was the judgement her near and dear ones passed on to her. She was at a corporate level and a beautiful mother but the world was blind to appreciate how well she managed work and home. When she grieves with her husband about such comments, he would console her to ignore others and that she is healthy.
During a wedding, Reena met her close relatives and greeted each other, how long it has been that we met, how are your kids and husband doing, how was work etc etc.. A lady commented, "Oh Reena, why can't you wear good clothes and jewelry at least to weddings, yaar. We know that you are simple and all that.. But still.. its such a grand wedding.. at least, you should have spent some time at parlour. Look at me, I am a housewife but still I took time to look good during the weddings."
"Am I the to be bride or is someone coming to meet and propose me? May be that's the reason you dressed so well ;)"
"You don't even have a taste on how to present yourself"
"As long as you do, it should be fine. I don't have a necessity to impress anyone, samhje?" Bluntly.
~Lady walks away.~
A young girl starts conversing with Reena and she likes the company of the nonsense girl. She likes the confidence of the young lady. The young girl has been an undergraduate student who has been struggling to find an internship at a company. Reena somehow senses the young lady undergraduate and looking for an internship at a company, even without the girl asking for it. She handovers her business card and asks her to meet the next day. The girl meets her and is happy to be have found an internship.
The young girl had initially assumed Reena - "a typical aunty material" sensing her lose fitting clothes, ill-matching shoes and she never guessed Reena was such a beautiful lady. The young girl later regrets how wrong she was, to decide someone on their looks. "Deeds shall count, not looks."
Nihar Naturals #IAmCapable survey conducted by Nielsen India reveals:
a. 69% of men agree that their judgement of women is based on their looks.
b. 64% of women agree that the judgments passed on them have affected their ability to reach their true potential.
c. 70%of women agree that majority of judgments on women are from family members or friends rather than strangers.
d. 72% of women agree that working women face more judgments on their looks or their clothes than housewives.
I wish everyone realizes the inner beauty than the fading beauty for beauty is in the eye of beholder.
“I’m breaking stereotypes based on appearance by sharing my experience for the #IAmCapable activity at BlogAdda in association with Nihar Naturals.”
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| XOXO ~manasa~ |
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