Purple Hats

In honor of Beautiful Women's Month and in memory of Belinda Emmett who lost
her fight with cancer, please pass this on to five women.

If you don't know five women to pass this on to, one will do just fine.

'If I had my life over'
By Belinda Emmett
(written after she found out she was dying from cancer)

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the Earth
would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for a day... I would have
burned the pink candle sculpted into a rose before it melted in storage... I
would have talked less and listened more... I would have invited friends
over to dinner even if the carpet was stained or the sofa faded... I would
have eaten popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the
dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace... I would have
taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth... I would
have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband... I would
never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my
hair had just been teased and sprayed... I would have sat on the lawn with
my grass stains... I would have cried and laughed less while watching
television and more while watching life... I would never have bought
anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil or was guaranteed
to last a lifetime...

Beautiful Women's Month

Age 3 She looks at herself and sees a Queen

Age 8 She looks at herself and sees Cinderella

Age 15 She looks at herself and sees an Ugly Sister ('Mum, I
can't go to school looking like this!')

Age 20 She looks at herself and sees 'too fat / too thin /
too short / too tall / too straight / too curly' - but decides she's going
out anyway

Age 30 She looks at herself and sees 'too fat / too thin /
too short / too tall / too straight / too curly' - but decides she doesn't
have time to fix it, so she's going out anyway

Age 40 She looks at herself and sees 'clean' and goes out
anyway

Age 50 She looks at herself and sees 'I am' and goes wherever
she wants to

Age 60 She looks at herself and reminds herself of all the
people who can't even see themselves in the mirror anymore - goes out and
conquers the world

Age 70 She looks at herself and sees wisdom, laughter and
ability and goes out to enjoy life

Age 80 Doesn't even bother to look - just puts on a purple
hat and goes out to have fun with the world

Maybe we should put on that purple hat earlier...

If you don't mind, send this on to all the women you are grateful to have as
friends.

Maybe we should all grab that purple hat earlier