Have You Told Your Children How Beautiful They Are?

Lupita Nyong’o from the movie “12 Years a Slave”

Last night, a beautiful Kenyan woman, Lupita Nyong’o, not only won an academy award for her portrayal of a slave, but she also gave the most inspiring speech I have heard in a long time. She thanked her mother, for telling her she was beautiful even though as a young girl growing up in Mexico she felt ugly compared to her lighter skinned classmates.

In an earlier speech, given at the Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon, she said “And what my mother meant when she said you can’t eat beauty was that you can’t rely on how you look to sustain you. What is fundamentally beautiful is compassion for yourself and for those around you. That kind of beauty inflames the heart and enchants the soul. It is what got Patsey in so much trouble with her master, but it is also what has kept her story alive to this day. We remember the beauty of her spirit even after the beauty of her body has faded away. “

She concluded her Oscar acceptance speech by saying “No matter where you are from, your dreams are valid.”

Here are my tips for the day:

• Every day, tell your children they are beautiful
• Every day, hug your children
• Every day, listen to your childrens stories and ask about their dreams for their future
• Every day at work, give praise to others
• Ask your family and friends about their dreams for the future

I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback. Please feel free to share them in the comments section below!