Beautiful & Unique: Hana

My name is Hana and my blog is Just sit and Listen

I live in a city in Los Angeles right now. Born and raised LA girl

What's one beauty secret or lesson you learned from your mom?

My mother was never one to focus on beauty, but my grandmother would always say that beauty comes from within, something that will always be there even though appearances may fade.

What's one obstacle in your life that you have had to over come? 

 I grew up feeling different, in a more negative sense, since I am of mixed racial backgrounds. When I would visit Japan in the summer I would always get looked at for not appearing the same as everyone else. As a little girl you don't understand that people aren't looking at you because you look different in a bad way, so this scared me emotionally as a child. 

What makes you unique?

Now I feel that being half Japanese is a blessing. Not because I might look unique, but it has taught be accepting of others and not fit one particular mold. I have been a part of the Japanese culture, and the American culture, which not everyone can say they have done or understand.

If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

If I could change something about myself, it would be the fact that I can tend to be a push over. I would rather see other people happy than to have some sort of satisfaction within myself. Others happiness comes first to me, when in fact I can't make others happy if I am not happy myself. So I need to learn to focus more on myself. 

What has helped you to appreciate  yourself for who you are?

What helped me appreciate myself more was the process of growing up. Learning that what others think of me is not the most important thing in the world. It is not necessary to be accepted by everyone. And this is something you learn over time, and people come and go in your life. 

 
If you could teach the upcoming generation one thing about themselves what would it be?

Don't be afraid to be an individual. Love yourself for who you are, be what makes you happy. If you find happiness in being like those around you, then that's okay too. Being unique might not be for everyone, and there is nothing wrong with that. As long as you have that happiness within. 

What's your favorite thing about yourself?

One external thing I like is that I think I have a pretty genuine smile. And one internal thing is how much I care for the happiness of other people. 

What makes you beautiful and how do you remind yourself of that?

What makes me beautiful is that I have a lot of friends, which means that people must like who I am inside. So I would like the say what I am as a person and as a friend is what makes me beautiful, and the friends that surround me remind me of that everyday. 


Want to be a part of this great series? Here's how! 

Beautiful & Unique: Danielle

 1) What's your name? 

 Danielle & I blog over at Porcelain Heart, Ivory Tooth.

2) Where do you live now and where did you grow up? 

 I live in central Florida, in a small hilly town where I grew up.

3) What's one beauty secret or lesson you learned from your mom?  

My Mom and Grandma both taught me to be myself no matter what and to always, always use sunscreen during the day and face lotion at night.

4) What's one obstacle in your life that you have had to over come?

Something that made you feel ugly or not unique. Being teased in middle school for my full lips, it made me feel incredibly inadequate.

5) What makes you unique?  

Definitely my creative problem solving skills, my weird obsession/admiration of teeth and my deep love for juxtapositions. Like how beautiful the poppy flower is, yet at the same time it is can be made into something deadly: heroin.

6) If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be? 

 To be calmer and to not let things irritate me the way they do sometimes. It’s definitely a work in progress…

7) What has helped you to appreciate yourself for who you are?  

The older I get the more self-acceptance I have. It’s been a long journey from that insecure girl that I used to be, but I am so, so happy of where I am at now.

8) If you could teach the upcoming generation one thing about themselves what would it be?  

To love yourself no matter what and to treat others with kindness, because we are all beautiful, insecure creatures.

9) What's your favorite thing about yourself ? 

 I can find beauty in anything, and the external would be my skin – thankfully I don’t have to wear powder or foundation.

10) What makes you beautiful and how do you remind yourself of that?  

The journey that my heart and soul has been through makes me beautiful and I am reminded of this by reading the poetry that I have written.

Want to be a part of this great series? Here's how! 

Beautiful & Unique: Katyha

What's your name?
Katyha from lovekatyha.blogspot.com

Where do you live now and where did you grow up?
I live in the beautiful Sydney Australia. I arrived from Chile when I was only a year old so this is place I call home. We moved around a lot while my parents were much younger but we always remained in Sydney.

What's one beauty secret or lesson you learned from your mom (or another woman you look up to)?
I don't remember my mum ever giving me any beauty secret or lesson but I did observe her quite often. I unlike her could never be bothered with the creams and special soaps or lotions for the face or body but one thing I am never without is perfume. I remember her leaving for work and she would always come into my room and kiss me goodbye, I could smell the beautiful scent that remained long after she left. So I am never without a sprinkle of perfume.

What's one obstacle in your life that you have had to over come? Something that made you feel ugly or not unique.
Many things I have studied are not 'girl' friendly and I often got odd looks from the teachers. I was the only girl studying network engineering and this one teacher would often not pay much attention to me. He got the shock of his life when I was the second to finish a test, well before most of the boys in my class. But it was lovely proving him and many others wrong, we girls can do anything and sometimes better.

What makes you unique?
This is where I get a little stuck at times, what makes me unique? well my husband would say it is my craziness and I have to agree. When I am happy I will scream with happiness and I often will deafen a few people along the way


If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
Outside:
I would love to have straight, thicker hair instead of my curly, thin mess but I am sure if I had straight hair I would be wishing for curly hair.

Inside:
My shyness. It has always been something I have struggled with.

What has helped you to appreciate yourself for who you are?
Having children makes you really think about yourself and what you portray to them. I learnt from a psychologist that what we show them whether good or bad gets absorbed by them so if we constantly put ourselves down it will be what they know and what they copy. So now that I do know it is something I am always working on, so when they are older they are happy and confident kids.


If you could teach the upcoming generation one thing about themselves what would it be?
Try not too rush to be older, it will happen in time. Just enjoy the moment you are currently living

What's your favorite thing about yourself?External
I have these amazing stretch marks from having my four children and although I hated them my husband always says to me they are the most beautiful marks in the world because of what they brought with them…I would gladly endure them again for my four

Internal
I am always trying to keep my friendships that I have made throughout my life. I have maintained contact with a fair few and always remember to email or contact them in any way. No matter if I get a response or not

What makes you beautiful and how do you remind yourself of that?
The bible often reminds me of this…"I am fearfully and wonderfully made" Ps 139:14

Want to be a part of this great series? Here's how!

Beautiful & Unique: Marie Breward

 What's your name?
Marie Breward - A Touch of Balance

Where do you live now and where did you grow up?
I live in Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK but grew up in North East Scotland (from 11 years to 40)

What's one beauty secret or lesson you learned from your mom (or another woman you look up to)?
My Grandmother had beautiful skin and did not use commercial face creams. She used to make her own from rose petals.

What's one obstacle in your life that you have had to over come? Something that made you feel ugly or not unique.
Going it alone after 21 years marriage, my decision.

What makes you unique?
I've started over 3 times with absolutely nothing and built my life up again - and I'm a damn good Reflexologist.

If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
My size, its ballooned again recently, but I'm doing something about it right now. :)

What has helped you to appreciate yourself for who you are?
My friends and family


If you could teach the upcoming generation one thing about themselves what would it be?
That they can do anything they want to do if they want to they just have to have the dream then go for it.

What's your favorite thing about yourself?
Internal : I'm positive and happy.
External: I like to inspire others to find solutions to things.

What makes you beautiful and how do you remind yourself of that?
Helping people to feel better about themselves. Through my friends x


Want to be a part of this great series? Here's how! 

Beautiful & Unique: Alesha Frederickson

Hey everyone! My name is Alesha Frederickson and I currently do not have a blog, but that could change in the near future!


Where do you live now and where did you grow up?

As of right now I am residing in Winnipeg, but I grew up in the small town of Landmark, MB.


What's one beauty secret or lesson you learned from your mom?

My mom wasn't really big on beauty secrets to tell you the truth, and doesn't really wear a lot of makeup. I think that is a good thing to show your children, that they can be beautiful without adding or putting on a lot of makeup.


What's one obstacle in your life that you have had to over come?

I was dating a boy a while back who decided to see other women at the same time as he was seeing me, and the thought did cross my mind that maybe it was because I was ugly, or not unique/fun enough. In the end, I realized it was his own self confidence issues that lead him down that path, and he needed the attention from others. Also, one person's opinion or actions towards me should not really dictate how I feel or perceive myself.

What makes me unique....? This is a hard question. I think what makes me unique is that I try to see the world in a positive light (for the most part) and I try to step back and see things as a whole. I am very emotional yet very logical (and i wasn't always this way). Its hard to pin it down to why a person is unique, its just the way they do, act, and say things. the way they laugh, smile, cry, or create.


If I could change one thing about myself I would love to be more risk-taking. I am usually quite cautious when it comes to big decisions, or small ones sometimes too, and it can limit a person.


What has helped you to appreciate yourself for who you are?

I appreciate myself for who I am because I know that I am a person of love and honestly. If you surround yourself with people, things, and ideas of love, you see yourself for who you are, and you are happy with that. If you are honest with yourself and others, you will truly have fulfilling things happen.


If you could teach the upcoming generation one thing about themselves what would it be?

The upcoming generation needs to know that doing your hair for 45 minutes before school is stupid. Uggs are gross (also please pick up your feet when you walk in them!) and that in 10 years you won't really give a crap about most of the things you think are a big deal right now.


One external thing I like about myself is my eyes. If you want to know how I am feeling look into my eyes, they really can tell you a lot. One internal thing I like is my ability to be honest. I think its an important key to having great relationships.


The thing that makes me beautiful is that I am not perfect, and I am not trying to be. I remind myself of this by allowing myself to see how many things I should be lucky for, rather than ungrateful for.


Want to participate in this great series? Here's how!

Beautiful & Unique: Jenelle Matheson

1) What's your name? 

Jenelle Matheson

2) Where do you live now and where did you grow up?

I live in Winnipeg,MB and I grew up in Grande Prairie, AB.

3) What's one beauty secret or lesson you learned from your mom? 

Always ALWAYS wash your make-up off before bed.

 

5) What makes you unique? 

Everything. God made me in His own image. Each of us is different in our own way. My dad always said it was my birth mark on my left elbow. 

6) If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

My feet, they're weird shaped.

7) What has helped you to appreciate yourself for who you are? 

People accepting me and knowing that God loves me no matter what.

8) If you could teach the upcoming generation one thing about themselves what would it be? 

To not care so much what people think, cause in the end - it really doesn't matter. "Just beeee yourself" - quote from the movie Aladdin.

9) What's your favorite thing about yourself? 

External - my hair, it's easy to do and still looks nice, although I wish it was longer.  Internal - my awesome listening skills, people tell me I'm a really good listener.
 

10) What makes you beautiful and how do you remind yourself of that? 

That I am confident in who I am and who God made me to be. I remind myself with the verse "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." I tell myself this any time I feel ugly which is often sadly.

Want to be a part of this great series? Here's how!

Beautiful & Unique: Lynne Roy

1) What's your name? 

Lynne Marie and my blog is my guide to positive conscious living

2) Where do you live now and where did you grow up? 

Current city, Winnipeg Manitoba; however, I grew up in a small town in southeastern Manitoba. Country girl at heart.

3) What's one beauty secret or lesson you learned from your mom? 

Condition the tips of your hair to keep them from drying out. It will extend the time between trims when you want to grow your hair out.

4) What's one obstacle in your life that you have had to over come? 

Something that made you feel ugly or not unique. I was teased a lot as a child. Elementary school, middle-, and high-school was difficult. 

5) What makes you unique?

I am no longer afraid to try new things. My personal style has changed, I like to be edgy. It's the feeling test; if it feels good, I'm going to try it.

6) If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be? 

I wouldn't change anything on the outside, although if you would have asked me this question 10 years ago, I would have said "Everything!". 

I have one eye bigger than the other, for years I was hiding behind my glasses for fear of being ridiculed. As I grew older, I realized that not only was I limiting my style by hiding behind specs but I was also hindering my happiness. No one is perfect, everyone has flaws, so be proud of them, they are yours... No one else is like you.

On the inside, I believe that I am still growing and continually changing to be a better me. 

7) What has helped you to appreciate yourself for who you are? 

Self reflection. Knowledge. Taking risks and following my intuition.

8) If you could teach the upcoming generation one thing about themselves what would it be?

If you have to do something to make someone else happy, it won't make you happy. Only do things that bring you joy, because in turn, others will be reap from your joy. Don't listen to negative, toxic people.

9) What's your favorite thing about yourself? 

I like my sense of humour, my whole life I have always made people laugh. I love love love my hair :)

10) What makes you beautiful and how do you remind yourself of that?

Confidence. I say affirmations every day, when I get up and when I go to bed. It makes me feel good. Look up affirmations for some examples. Basically, you find your own along the way. 

Want to contribute to this series? Here's how!