Crow's Feet

I was looking in the mirror the other day putting my make up on trying to get ready to take the boys to school, lo and behold I see the appearance of crow's feet. Like any other red blooded woman around the world, I attempted to spread those wrinkles out with my fingers and told myself, "maybe it's just the way I slept." I ran to my husband and said, “Baby, do I look old?!” He laughed and said, "You're younger than me. I'm the wrong person ask" and continued shaking his head as he walked away. I, of course could tell that he thought that I was being a total girl (aka ridiculous). 

It got me thinking… What are crow's feet? Why do we get crow's feet? 

Later that day, I went to the grocery store and there was a woman in the checkout line in front of me. She was probably in her 80s, she was wearing a black turtle neck (although it was 80 degrees outside) and tan khakis. I looked at her and I thought, "Wow she is so beautiful!"

So being a girl, you will understand why I wanted to acknowledge her and tell her that. I said, “Ma'am, I gotta say, you are stunning! What's your secret?" In her oh so Southern accent she replied, “Well hon, I been happy, real happy, God blessed me with a wonderful man who was a great father, kids, grandchildren and great grandchildren. I've smiled nonstop for 60 years." I looked at her beautiful smile lines and thought, “Those aren't crow's feet, that is her happiness map."

Being a female there are lots of things we try to fix or change about ourselves. Sometimes it really is a map, marking the signs of where we have been and where we want to go. 

Like those stretch marks, don't pretend, you and I both know we would have those babies all over again! They just left a mark (always will, I'm guessing)

Sometimes our "flaws" are the sweetest reminders of a life that was truly lived with total abandon and LOTS of smiles!