What do you think about as you get ready to leave the house for either work, shopping, Church, formal events, casual socializing etc. Do you think about how you are going to present yourself to the world or…? Think about that. I’ll wait.

Here’s me. If it’s a professional appointment like my music teaching or makeup artistry, I make sure I do my makeup well, my hair is as good as I can do it, decent clothes even if casual, some jewelry and a pleasant demeanor. In short, I want to present well. I always want to present well even if I’m going grocery shopping. I’m not doing full makeup and getting into a formal gown but some makeup and jeans that aren’t that awful fashion – ripped and looking homeless, and my basic jewelry. Makes me feel good too…finished.

What do I see on the streets these days? Well…women with hair pulled back with no makeup or any evidence of basic skincare, ripped jeans making people look like they’re homeless, skin tight leggings that outline every piece of a woman’s anatomy (o joy), smoking, tattoos, nose and eyebrow plus lip piercings…the list goes on. The men look a bit better if their hair is short. Most men don’t wear makeup or do skincare, although men should do skincare in this day and age. In short, people no longer seem to take an interest in basic appearance. Yes I know how hard it can be if you just want to go to the store and “don’t feel like it.” But make the basic effort.

Appearance, manners, lack of concern for others, honesty and just basic human decency is suffering a lot in this day and age. People are also presenting as juveniles, offended at the very thought of someone else having a different opinion than they.

What can one say? I personally admire people who make the effort to present well. It tells me they care about themselves.

How do you present? Have you given it more thought since my first paragraph? If we only have one body then do you really care to present it as best as you can when you appear in public? Do you enjoy working on yourself? Appearance, manners, language, social abilities, intelligent conversation?

Think about it. I do…every day.