Presentation

What is in a presentation? Making something look pretty! 

Believe me, I am into presentation. It's my job, first of all. I spend hours and hours a day making people look good. But what is in a presentation if the inside is not as pretty as the outside?  

If you go to a fancy restaurant and the food is served with freshly cut vegetables cut in a rose with little drops of 1932 Modena balsamic vinegar in a Mona Lisa pattern, but the food itself taste like crap, does the presentation stand for anything? It does if you are a visual person. But if you are a foodie, then maybe not.

People can be the same way. Pretty on the outside, seemingly flawless ~ but on the inside not so much. And the opposite applies as well. Some people are not into "curb appeal". Some folks are deeper than that, go beyond the package wrapping... deep in the depths of your soul and then that is where the real presentation comes in. Remember, beauty is only skin deep! The really beautiful person speaks from within.  The presentation of your heart... My momma always said "Don't judge a book by it's cover"! She is right. You have got to read it first before you decide if you like it or not.

I know some of each. Pretty people that are hard to take, and not so pretty people that are absolutely beautiful once you get to know them. Their insides make the outside gorgeous and visa versa! God sprinkles our lives with both kinds... 

How can we present ourselves from the inside out? This is VERY hard for most. By not putting up walls, and opening up your heart and emotions outwardly without restrictions or worries about what people think! A problem I always had, so worried about what people think! So stupid. I'm getting better with that with age... But it is a fact of life, we want people to like us and not judge us for how we look, what we wear, if we cuss or drink too much or go to church. Most of us want to look good, have our kids behave and be well mannered, dress appropriately, and put forth a first impression that stays and means well. We teach them this. We teach them way more than we know we do. Especially the inside part.

There is always a time and place we have to watch our P's and Q's... (What are P's and Q's anyway?) Our actions speak louder than words or appearances. Who we are starts with how we act. How we love, and how we react... The presentation comes later... The inner speaks first whether we like it or not. No words necessary... Our children are spitting images of what we have taught them though our actions. Everyone knows that. Good and not so good... :(

Homes relate to this as well. "Keeping up with the Jones'" type mentality. All the most current furnishings and then there is depression and abuse on the inside. No matter how pretty things seem, there is always pain and suffering of some degree. Everyone has it. Some just hide it better than others. And some of us share it. I still love a fancy table setting and pretty houses. Not sure that will change.

We recently visited the shanty town called Langa Township in Cape Town, South Africa. 50,000 people live here in poverty. We were privileged to walk through this place with a guide that was born there, lived there still and he was educated and adorable. He was devoted to his land and his people. He had a passion for life there. Hard to swallow or understand once you saw this place... Trash and broken glass covered the dirt ground, dirty huge black Aunt Jermima type ladies fried sheep guts and brains to sell for 70 cents, (Yes, the Patrizi's all tried it), barely standing cardboard huts housed three families in one small room, dirty kids played in the streets, not many of them had shoes. But they had smiles. Although they had precious messy faces, their beauty was within. Love in their hearts... The presentation - well not so good.

All my life we have given to the needy, worked at the SOS food bank, walked 20 miles for Muscular Dystrophy, supported cancer, and bought gifts for families not so fortunate. This year we walked in the streets of poverty, experienced the real life of the African children, saw the minimal simplicities and filth of the living conditions... It was good and bad. At the end of our tour, my son, now 27 opened up his wallet and gave all his money to the driver and hugged him real hard. 

He was taught that. We have succeeded. I had tears.

 Frying sheep inards!

In 2012 I am going to try and be more open to things that aren't appealing on the outside. I am a visual person, pretty houses and pretty people and yummy food all mean something to me. Without tasting the meal, I can see if I like it already. That is not right. Same with life. When everything isn't perfect on the outside, there is goodness on the inside... if you would only give yourself the chance to find it. But first you have to look for it.

Give love.

Sher