Ug-uh-ly and Beautiful

Growing up, my mother told me that I was “ug-uh-ly”.  She always told me that when she said it that way, she meant the opposite of ugly.  When I was a child, that made no sense.  As an adult, it still makes no sense.  I’m not sure how it came about.  I never heard her use that word for anyone or anything but me.  I never thought that I was beautiful but I knew that I wasn’t ugly. 

Skip ahead to my teenage years.  There was a movie filming locally and I was able to meet (and hang out with) the cast and crew.  I got a haircut from one of the hair people which remains one of the best haircuts I have ever had.  I was out one evening, coincidentally with my mom, when one of the makeup people came in and he was very drunk.  He was not well and needed help.  I sat him down and talked to him.  He told me about a project he had just finished where he worked with a very famous ex-Charlie’s Angel who had a poster that teenage boys loved.  (I am not naming her on purpose, but if you were around in the 70’s, you know who this was.)  He told me that as beautiful as she is, I was even more beautiful. 

I know that he was drunk but my experience with drunk people is that they tell the truth and are more open when in that state.  Did I choose to believe him?  Of course not!  She was stunning.  Did I know for sure that I was beautiful (or at least pretty) from then on?  Yes. 

You never know how your positive comment to someone will impact them.  It doesn’t cost you a thing but could possibly be life-altering to them.