Dad stops at Target’s makeup aisle to pen powerful letter to his baby daughter's future self

Fathers are often one of the most important men in a person's life and their support has the power to build an individual's confidence. Dr. Kelly Flanagan certainly falls into that category. He recalled having an opportunity to instill confidence in his daughter Caitlin when she was a toddler, in a letter that he wrote to her after visiting a beauty aisle, as per Humaning with Dr. Kelly Flanagan. He started by mentioning that his friend was with his daughter at a beauty store and spoke to him about his experience.

He was greatly disturbed by the words mentioned at the aisle and their connection with makeup products. Hence Flanagan visited a makeup aisle himself and got a gist of what his friend meant. He imagined his then-toddler daughter standing in the aisle decades later, being pushed to believe the stereotypical lies. “I imagined Caitlin, a decade older, standing in the same aisle, absorbing all the messages suggesting her worthiness is dependent on her prettiness,” he said. “I wanted to challenge the voices of the beauty industry with the voice of a father, telling her that beauty isn’t something she starts putting on her face in adolescence; it’s something that was put into her soul from the very beginning,” he mentioned. He was adamant on letting his little girl know that beauty comes from within and is not purchased from a store. Addressing his letter to his “little one,” Flanagan mentioned the words he saw at the store to break the stereotypes.

He shared a beautiful reminder, “Words have power, and the words on display in this aisle have a deep power. Words and phrases like ‘Affordably gorgeous,’ ‘Infallible,’ ‘Flawless finish,’ ‘Brilliant strength,’ ‘Liquid power,’ ‘Go nude,’ ‘Age defying,’ ‘Instant age rewind,’ ‘Choose your dream,’ ‘Nearly naked,’ and ‘Natural beauty.’” The dad then mentioned that having a daughter meant having someone with the same strength, soul, gift and passion as any other man. “But sitting in this store aisle, you also begin to realize most people won’t see her that way. They’ll see her as a pretty face and a body to enjoy,” he added. 

Flanagan then pointed out each word and its connection with a product and countered it with a father’s opinion. He wrote, “Strength- May your strength be not in your fingernails but in your heart. Choose your dream- But not from a department store shelf. Find the still-quiet place within you. A real dream has been planted there. Naked- The world wants you to take your clothes off. Please keep them on. But take your gloves off. Pull no punches. Say what is in your heart. Be vulnerable. Embrace risk. Love a world that barely knows what it means to love itself.” He continued to gently transform the meaning of the words on the aisle. He added, “Infallible- May you be constantly, infallibly aware that infallibility doesn’t exist. If you choose to seek perfection, may it be in an infallible grace—for yourself, and everyone around you." 

Adding more to the list, to leave no room for doubt, Flanagan went on. "Age-defying- Your skin will wrinkle and your youth will fade, but your soul is ageless. May you always defiantly resist the aging of your spirit. Flawless finish- May your flawless finish be a peaceful embrace of the end and the unknown that follows, and may it thus be a gift to everyone who cherishes you,” he noted. In conclusion, the dad wrote, “I pray three words will remain more important to you—the last three words you say every night, when I ask the question: ‘Where are you the most beautiful?’ Three words so bright no concealer can cover them. Where are you the most beautiful? On the inside.”