When I was 25 years old my boss turned to me and said, “What does every woman in here have that you don’t”? I look around confused. It is 1999 in Fort Worth, Texas. I am looking at my co-workers and cant figure out what he is talking about. Finally he lets me know – it’s fake nails,they all have acrylic nails.
I don’t.
It’s my lunch break and I am supposed to do something about this. So, off to Le Nail salon I go. I was welcomed back to work as a true Texas woman.

My nail tech would regularly lecture me on what nails were to be used for and what not. They are not screw drivers and they are not scrubbers! I think if they are going to be right there at the end of your hand it seems to me that they should be used! And used and abused they were.

I am not petite of frame so I liked how they made my hands look. When my kids started coming it was hard to find the time to get to the salon and I missed far to many appointments. Due to the fact that my hands are in women’s faces all day it is easier to just have a short simple nail, very easy to take care of.

In turning 40 I walked by a nail salon and I remembered fondly the pampering of getting my nails done and I think ‘Perfect, I have time and I can commit to taking care of my nails’! I see me being better than I was in the past, I would regularly go in and my new nail tech will like me. She will not slap my hands in disapproval that I have let myself slide into using them as a flat head screwdriver. She will see me regularly now that I am grown up enough to do this! After all I am in the beauty industry, I can do this. I picked out silver glitter! Its nail shellac, its different, better and – did I mention the silver glitter? Seriously, how fun is that?!

Busy.. really busy! This is good, my business is growing and I’m in demand…my kids, hubby, dinner, responsibilities, etc. It may have been more than three weeks. Week three and I notice my nails are now officially unacceptable. I look at my schedule… there is literally no time. None! I have never heard of a nail spa open at 11:30 at night though that would be perfect for me. My nails are simply not more important to me than my hubby, kids or business.. so I officially have failed this experiment. Seriously outgrown… oh and they are now chipping at the base! Large half off side moons of missing glitter.

Driving to a networking meeting I see my damaged glittered nails reflecting. This is professional, put together and in a room full of women.. yes this is ideal.. totally not looking the part of my brand. I don’t need my nail tech to be slapping my hands, I am doing that just fine.

A lady crosses the room saying she hadn’t had the chance to meet me yet. I thank her, we are all very proper getting to talk for a moment.. she then says, “I hope this doesn’t sound odd but I saw you across the room and your skin is just radiating and you are so put together.. I wish that I looked that good.” Flattered of course, this happens a lot as my skin is (no humble way to say it) amazing. I explain that it is my job, “I am a skin care expert, makeup artist and image consultant”! Immediately she starts to point out all these things that are wrong with her.. from her hair to her toes! I laugh at the irony and say, “let me help you feel better about you!” Holding my less-than-manicured-tattered-glitter-nails in front of her face—we both laugh as we discuss how we just don’t really see the faults in others like we see the faults in ourselves. She thought I was perfect when I was sporting outgrown talons… she didn’t see them. But I did.

How often do you just let one small thing draw your focus? Others see the overall image, not the little nit picking that we are so prone to do to ourselves. I love this quote by Tina Fey:

(If you retain nothing else, always remember the most important rule of beauty which is: who cares?)

It’s a great reminder—no one cares!! As much as we do and as long as we are radiating our beautiful smile and a kind heart we are gorgeous, radiant and perfect! And if you happen to be sporting outgrown chipping shellac well, then you can help others feel good at their granddaughter painted toe nails.