This is something I’ve wanted to say for a while now, and doing Totus Tuus this summer has only made me want to say it more and helped me formulate in my mind how to say it.

Ladies everywhere, if nothing else in this life, remember this: YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. And I don’t mean when you take hours to fuss over your appearance, because I’m talking about something more. Just as you are, as God created you, you are STUNNING. Seriously, it takes my breath away how each and every one of you is STUNNING. And in all honesty, the less make-up you wear, the more I notice it. Stop thinking you’re ugly or useless and trying to hide it by flaunting your body and covering your face, you’re worth so incredibly much more than that. Please, don’t ever believe that you’re anything but beautiful and worth more than you can imagine. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. YOU ARE LOVED.

Gentlemen everywhere, remember this: WOMEN ARE BEAUTIFUL. WOMEN ARE PRECIOUS. TREAT THEM THAT WAY. We all have a desire to give ourselves to something more; we fall so often into making ourselves that ‘something more’. WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE. In case you haven’t noticed, WOMEN DESERVE BETTER. They shouldn’t have to feel that they have to flaunt themselves to be appreciated. Step it up, guys, step it up. We can help women to believe in their own worth, but only if we treat them like they’re worth it. Be the awesome men you were created to be and treat women with dignity.

That’s all. Godspeed.