I always wanted to be head-turningly hot. I wanted to be the kind of person that when you see her walking down the street, you can’t help but notice her.
I remember specifically talking to a friend about this when I was 19 or 20. I matter-of-factly/glumly-fishing-for-a-compliment-said, “I’m not the kind of girl you’d see in a mall and do a double-take.”
He said something soft and complimentary, but I didn’t believe him and I didn’t believe that he believed it either. Oh, I thought I was nice, and a catch in some ways. I just felt like I wasn’t noticeable. Later, my first boyfriend said that I was a “slow burn” which I took to mean that my attractiveness grew slowly, that it didn’t hit people right away. I’m not opposed to that role. I like the phrase “slow burn” and was/am happy enough with that. But, sometimes, I want to be a lightning bolt. A jolt. A double-take.
With hindsight and experience, I realize that I probably was that hot when I was 19. Fit (though of course I thought I was fat) and pretty. But I didn’t believe it and I know now that believing it is 90% of what makes someone head-turningly hot. A person owning themselves, knowing themselves, and carrying themselves as if they belong wherever they are, as if they know exactly who they are and what they’re worth and don’t give two fucks if anyone around them agrees, that person is almost always noticeable.
Eye contact doesn’t hurt either.
Most days, I still don’t think I am head-turningly hot, and many days, it isn’t important. You don’t want to be the center of attention all day, every day. But I know now that it isn’t usually an attribute, something that you just are or aren’t. It is a feeling you have, a thing you can be, if you choose to.
It is about attitude, confidence, swagger, more than it is about any specific detail or feature. There are some days, when I am feeling particularly fabulous, that I *do* feel head-turningly hot. Maybe I’m wearing a particularly sexy skirt, or just gave a great presentation at work, or spent the morning exchanging messages with someone hot. On those days I do walk down the street with my head up, my stride confident, my smile wide, glancing at people as I glide by. Those are great days.
On those days, you can bet heads are turning.
You are completely correct – confidence is sexy no matter what you look like. I, unfortunately do not exude confidence most of the time, am shy, and socially awkward…but there are days, like you, when I can pull it off. The recipe isn’t complicated, and ingredients aren’t hard to find, but cooking it up just right…that takes a bit of effort.
That is such a great analogy! It is a simple recipe, but yeah, sometimes finding the confidence is so tricky. And, confidence breeds confidence, which can be difficult when you feel you’re starting at zero. It helps to try and find one good thing and build from there.
I too have my days when I feel good and know I am turning heads, because I feel confident, but most of the time I am just another one on the street or in the mall.
And you know, I cannot help but think that those who do normally turn heads, have their off days on which no one even pays attention to them 😉
Thanks for sharing this and welcome to Wicked Wednesday! Hope to see you here a lot more 🙂
Rebel xox
That’s a very good point! If course the head-turners would have off days 🙂
I absolutely agree, sexy is an attitude not a body shape or a look or a hair colour etc. Oh and those day when you the attitude is just buzzing from you, those are great days
Mollyxxx
I totally agree, I love those days!!
Really liked this. So spot on about confidence. Great post. xox
2015: What I Read | Exhibit A
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