The last day of The Naked Face Project is this Saturday.  I can’t believe how fast the last 60 days flew by – I though that no makeup, shaving, or primping would make time move as slow as molasses!

Please check out The Naked Face Project website and my introduction to TNFPto get a complete understanding of the intention behind the Project.

Molly Barker stopped by yesterday to discuss our concluding thoughts on the Project, as well as our plans for the final week.  It’s been so fun to go on this journey with Molly – I really respect her for so many reasons (she’s a multiple Ironman, founder of Girls on the Run, self-esteem crusader, generally amazing and honest person).  

One of the things that Molly and I agree on is this:  For us, participation in The Naked Face Project has re-emphasized the fact that there are many ways for women (and men, too) to express their inherent awesomeness, and physical appearance is just one aspect of beauty.  Yes, people do care about what you look like on the outside.  I’m not so naïve that I don’t understand this!  During this Project, strangers in the locker room have given me funny looks because of my hairy armpits and asked if I “feel sick” because sans makeup.  I think that, as a society, we get so trapped by the idea that physical beauty is the primary and most important expression of beauty.  But experiencing this Project has certainly proven to me that it’s not.  There are so many other things that make each of us amazing and special and unique and worthy – we just have to believe it.  After 60 days without a beauty routine and learning so much (from you!) about our collective experiences as women, I know for sure that beauty is far more complex and intricate than what we see on the outside. 

That’s why The Naked Face Project is ending with a Celebration of Beauty.  I hope you will join Molly and I in our celebration this Saturday, March 31.  There are many ways to participate, just as there are many ways to express your beauty.  

Molly created the following list of ways to celebrate:

• Post a profile pic of yourself on Facebook, Twitter or some other social media website in all of your Naked Face glory
• Write about your experiences on your blog.
• Write a letter (or post a comment on the website) to a magazine or television network and let them know you’d like to see more positive messages about girls and women in their publications and on their airwaves.
• Take an 8 year old out to dinner and tell her how beautiful and amazing she is.
• Take an 80 year old out to dinner and tell her how beautiful and amazing she is.
• Send a thank you card to your mother for all she means to you.
• Send a thank you card to your daughter for all she means to you.
• Watch TV shows that portray women and girls in a positive light.
• Put away all pop-culture magazines that make fun of or judge women based on their appearance and find something else to read that shows how strong women and girls really are.
• Write a letter to a woman in politics and thank her for her service (even try writing the letter to a woman who is running for office on a party ticket that you are not a member of!)
• Research girls’ empowerment programs and reach out to set up time to volunteer (may we suggest Girls on the Run?)
• Go for a run or walk and think about your body’s amazing strength.
• Post an Operation Beautiful Sticky note.
• Take an hour to just be alone and be quiet.
• Practice yoga.
• Do some kind of sport you have never done, but always wanted to.
• Lift some weights.
• Wear a costume for no reason.
• Dance naked in your bedroom to your favorite song.
• Cook a great meal and eat it with your family on the floor of your living room, picnic style.
• Have a sleepover with a friend. 
• Write a letter to your younger self and post it on your refrigerator.
• Skip down the sidewalk.
• Do something outside your comfort zone.
• Smile really big at everyone you pass today.
• Tell a stranger that she looks beautiful.
• Dance and sing really loudly in the car.
• Make a card for someone and deliver it personally.

On that note – Happy Monday! I hope it’s a beautiful day for you.