A few years ago, I was at a friend’s birthday party when a fellow guest mentioned that her daughter made a comment on her eyebrows. Apparently, the girl told her mom that her eyebrows are supposed to be twins. I remember thinking, Okay. I can see how this should be a thing. At the same time, I thought about how my eyebrows probably fail that test of kinship daily.
On a good day, my eyebrows are probably half-sisters. On an average day, they are likely just cousins. And on a day when I could care less, they’re not even related. For real. I wear make-up on the regular, and my eyebrows are my tormenters. I use a brow pencil like most women who want to achieve some semblance of a shape to their brows, but I haven’t yet perfected the defining part.
Unfortunately, ever since I heard this tidbit about how my brows should be twins, I cannot get it out of my head. Perhaps in the future for some fancy occasion when I deem it necessary to hire a make-up artist, my brows will rejoice. But before I wash my face that night, they will probably cling to each other like Celie and Nettie from The Color Purple.
(Oprah Daily)
As the water hits my face, I will hear one brow cry out, “Let huh stay – pleeease, let huh staaaaay!”
That might be a bit dramatic. Suffice it to say, having brows that are twins every day is not my ministry. I inherited my thick brows from my father, and for the most part, I love them. It’s just that they are kind of just there. The brow pencil helps define them – somewhat, anyway.
Some women don’t give their brows a second thought – oh how liberating that must be!
When it comes to appearance, eyebrows are just a tiny dot on the massive spectrum of standards on how we should look, dress, act, and just be. It’s hard to keep up with the ever changing standards that people must live up to. Take clothes, for instance. I generally choose my wardrobe based on what I like, as opposed to what the latest fad is. There are some items in my wardrobe that are older than some people’s teenaged children. Shame in my game? Never!
I will keep stuff forever! Don’t believe me? Okay – my daughter owns some Disney 101 Dalmatians slipper socks that I purchased when I was 19 years old.
Exhibit A:
I had my daughter two months before my 41st birthday and she is 9 now. If you’re good at math, then this should give you some context. I am the sentimental type – a trait that my daughter inherited from me, so she was all too happy to get those comfy slipper socks. And they, unlike my eyebrows, are twins!
Do you know how proud I was to pass those things down to her?
I know. I, too, am amazed that they have not disintegrated into shreds of nothingness after all this time.
I’m not sure if I should be pleased because I take good care of my things or simply astounded at the quality of the material. Either way, I probably qualify for some kind of Guinness world record. And in case you didn’t catch it – I have just challenged you to a duel.
Who, I ask, can literally look at someone who is 30 years old and utter the following phrase? I own SOCKS older than you!
I’ll wait.
I didn’t think so!
Yes. I am partial to my stuff. This is one big reason why I hate to jump on fashion trend bandwagons. I like classic pieces that I can keep in my closet for years.
Occasionally, I get caught up in the moment and fall for the popular okey doke – like heelless shoes.
Exhibit B:
(Pinterest)
I think I cried when these went out of style. I absolutely loved mine. When something is “out of date,” then I will, albeit reluctantly, give it up.
Tracee Ellis Ross is also known for keeping outfits for decades. She might be one of few people on earth who understands my quirkiness. If it’s still in good shape and I look good in it, I will continue to rock it! And it only solidifies my stance when someone compliments me on a pair of shoes or a sweater that I’ve had for 15 years.
Overall, I don’t define myself by certain societal standards. My eyebrows will probably never be twins – and I’m okay with that.
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