It got me thinking....
...about how often human beings respond or react out of fear.
...about how, instead of showing who we really are, we spend a great deal of time and energy trying to create a perception of who we want to be or think others want us to be (internally and externally).
...about how so many of us are striving for some ridiculous and unobtainable idea of perfection which, ultimately, leaves us in a perpetual state of disappointment.
...about how all of this keeps us from really sharing ourselves and experiencing others and - therefore - developing truly meaningful relationships.
I'm as guilty as anyone about this and have readily admitted to it in a previous post. Since that entry was more of an internal confession, today, I'm presenting the external.
This is what I look like when I roll out of bed - no make up, no shampoo, no toothbrush but tons of pillow marks (and other lines):
If you are a blogger who posts pictures, I challenge you to feature your own "Rise and Shine" photo.
I dare you to not only reveal but revel in your own imperfections and, in doing so, show us who you really are.
"Rise and Shine" Participants
50 comments:
I admire your courage to post your "rise and shine photo". But really, you look pretty good for first thing in the morning. I am not quite sure if I have the courage to post my "rise and shine photo". Gotta think about that one first...
You look beautiful!
Oh, to wake up in the morning looking at, er, sorry, I mean like that.
Oh man! I'm going to be scarey! I don't think I'll look as beautiful as you do! I couldn't tell you weren't wearing make-up. Your skin is glowing!
What was that about lines? Your face is as smooth as a baby's butt - you look fantastic.
You can do it, Katie! C'mon!
Thanks, CCW (when can I see yours?)!
Anonymous - aren't you cute ;)
Yay, Dana - the first commitment!
Gawd, you're gorgeous! I'm not much of a make-up and hair kinda girl to begin with, but if I looked like you I'd never wear any at all!!! I'd post mine, but my camera got sand in the lens in Florida and I haven't fixed it yet or bought a replacement. *sigh*
Lord, it's easy for you to request "rise and shine" photos when you look like THAT waking up.
I took my photo (thank Karl for leading me here!) and will post when I do my normal posting in the evening. Stop on by!
www.tsm.serveblog.net
And I fully agree. Embracing our imperfections and sharing them is a truly bonding experience. And sometimes it's nice to be able to say, "Hey! Karl has eye boogers too!" Ya know?
Karl - thank you for participating....your photo is great!
TSM - I can't wait to see yours! Thanks for stopping by.
i think i will wait until my zit goes away. :)
i'll echo everyone else and say... good god, woman! this is how you look when you first get up? my morning hairdo alone can stop a clock!
but more importantly, how come your RSS feed doesn't work for me in bloglines? all this time i thought you hadn't updated since portland! i feel lost!
I would, but then my anonymous thing would be all blown. (Mama always said better a poor excuse than no excuse). But, sinc eI don't wear makeup alot anyway, most of it would be about the same. Except my hair would be sticking up all over the darn place.
Pssssst....I did it today.
Thanks for this; it really has opened my eyes to some of my erm, issues.
Hmm, I'm too much of a blog virgin to go that far on just my first week. I'll think on it. You really do look great for just rolling out...
Never let it be said that I don't rise to a challenge. I even stole your title so HA!
Stop on by if you dare.
Karl sent me over. You are young and gorgeous...me, not so much. I get baaaad bedhead and have pillowmarks on my face...if I am brave I will try it.
if I remember to charge my camera, I will try and participate tomorrow. I can't promise that I will look anywhere as good as anyone else participating in it though, but that's okay. ^_^
Hubba hubba.
This is how you look first thing?! I invariably look like I just walked away from a car accident when I first wake up.
dang you look good in the morning! I'll be participating. It will scare people.
The last person I would want to look at first thing in the morning would be me, but here you go. :-)
Am I the first to suggest you look like a fresh-faced Julia Roberts in this picture?
I may have the nerve to do this. Someday.
Here's MY question for those bloggers who did participate--how many of them took a few first-morning photos before choosing the best of those to post? Hmmmm?
Haven't seen you in a while--nice to catch up!
By the way, you are all kinds of awesome...this is a great phenomenon you started :).
Beautiful. I hope I will have the courage to do a post just like this. Thanks for sharing.
ok...it's finally morning over here and I did remember to participate, not that it's good or anything...
in the "a little lame" blog
Hilly sent me over here, and then of course, Dave. I figured if they were brave enough to accept your challenge, I could muster up enough courage too. You're beautiful in the morning.
Wow, you are naturally beautiful. I came across your blog tonight while googling something stupid. I've enjoyed reading through many posts! I'll definitely be back.
**Also I may try that Morning Shot later on.
Well, I've been accused of not having enough pictures on my blog. While I don't think my rise and shine photo is the best one to start with (what a way to introduce my face to my readers!) I guess I do have to start somewhere. I'll be posting shortly.
Thank you! (Let's see if this will post; my comment yesterday would not.)
You really do look stunning. And I'm looking forward to reading around in here.
(Those bastids made me sign up via google, when it used to be that Blogger was enough!)
(I can't believe I'm still awake.)
Heh. You've really started something here! I hope mine didn't scare you too much ;-)
You totally look like Julia Roberts....
I think that we all long to be a little more 'real' than the image we present to the world. Nice work, Jessica!
Let's see...Dave, Hilly, Neil and Karl all sent me. I just posted my Rise and Shine picture myself. I look hot.
Good work on creating such a scene!
You look great in the morning. i look like I just peeled duct tape off my eye lids.
Holy Schmoley!! I get up 1-1/2 hrs before my beloved just so I won't subject him to me without a face! My eyes - little holes, tiny lashes, no brows. Cheeks - white. Lips - what lips? Hair - every whair!
Couldn't you at least look like you need some coffee?! Maybe if I wasn't trying to be anonymous-ish, I'd post a photo. . .
I tried it too, but I didn't end up looking anywhere near as good as you.
I did it. Blame Neil over at Citizen of the Month, but I'm in. My rise and shine photo is up for the world to see on my blog.
Ok, I did it. I would love to think of something clever to say about it, but I can't. I just did it.
Let me be the 40th person to tell you how GORGEOUS you are in the morning! My goodness.
I'm not sure I'm brave enough to rise to the challenge. I'll let you know. ;)
What a great idea! Look look great in the morning. Lucky girl!
Was directed here by a post from Stacey at Everyone Loves An Underdog. After much deliberation, and in defiance of my subtitle, I joined in. :)
I did it, finally!
You are ridiculously gorgeous, Jess, even first thing in the morning.
I post nude shots, but I don't know if I'm this brave. For you, I'll do it though. Tried to take some a couple of mornings ago but apparently I can't hold my hand steady before coffee. I will try again and let you know when I do it!
Sorry I haven't been connecting with you lately! Love you!
PS I will do this, but the last thing I'm thinking about at bedtime is "gotta bring the camera and put it on the nightstand".
Also might get me in trouble with my wife. But that's another story.
Oh Jessica! this is an awesome idea! I enjoyed looking through all the other posts at everyone else's "rise and shine" moment too.
If I can remember to grab my camera when I first wake up...I plan to do this too. Then again, i may just hurl it across the room hoping it knocks the alarm clock off the nightstand!
I'd do this too, if I looked like Julia Roberts first thing in the morning. Alas, more like Jason Briggs, so no, not going to play. ;)
Everyone is such a good sport about this. I am still building enough guts to do this though...
....... but you have no wrinkles... you suck.
Better late than never?
:)
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