The Best Foot Forward Challenge!

Since I've been neck-deep in editing and rewriting in my literary world, and neck-deep in living in my real world, I started to think about the effect personal presentation has upon a body. Jenny spoke of the importance of making oneself and one's surrounding nice before trying to accomplish any writing. I have covered (at great length, I might say) the importance of dressing well and doing your best to present yourself best-foot-forward.

In my own life, I always try to look nice, even if I don't expect to leave the house at all.

 Yesterday, for example, I had a long day of editing and rewriting ahead of me, and I knew I needed to dress up to meet the day.

 It might sound ridiculous, but I did it.

I took a shower, I did my hair, and I put on makeup.

It turns out I did end up going out, but that doesn't really matter because I wasn't aware of it beforehand. ;) The point is, the care you put into your appearance really sets you up for your "mental-me" state for the day.

If you treat your appearance with care and dress up a little, you are mentally acknowledging the fact that you are worth it. On the other hand....

We had a funny discussion on Facebook the other day about the fact that my main qualm with going to work in the business was the color of the shirts we have to wear..."It's not that I *mind* going to work with Dad. It's just...the shirts are a color that would only look good on a cave troll in the deepest throes of an apoplectic hemorrhage."

Yes. I waxed eloquent on the subject of shirts.--does that really surprise you? My dear friend replied:

"Oh...Yeah. Not the happiest color to work in. Just the shade of them says, 'just lie down in the mud and mope...It doesn't matter....'."

See? This phenomenon is not a singularity of mine. I am firmly convinced it happens to women everywhere. So the point of this rambling post is this:

I am challenging those of us who agree with the ideas above to a Best Foot Forward Challenge.

The idea of this challenge is that for a week, (starting Monday) we participants will dress nicely each day--wearing our hair a different way than usual or just a taking a little more care, putting on a bit of makeup if you wear makeup, wearing some jewelry, and generally just presenting ourselves in a prettier, more careful way. Each day you'll take a picture and post it either on FB or your blog or G+, and leave your link in a comment. Nothing fancy, nothing complicated, nothing intricate. Just everyday beauty. Along the way, notice how putting your best foot forward changes your attitude about everything from work, to housecleaning, to writing and school and beyond! :)

I'll be here Monday with my first day, and I hope to see you there! In closing, here are a few everyday-beauty photos to get you inspired!

See you Monday!