When I read the prompt for today’s Five Minute Friday was “red”, I immediately thought of this perfume. It’s currently in my nightstand and it’s one of the only scents I wear. With it’s luxurious mixture of pomegranate, red osmanthius, rum, and (Ohmyword) marshmallow— it’s perfect for me. I wear it all the time. To church. On dates. Out with friends. It’s my scent. And I wanted to write about it. “Love-letter to Forever Red” was what I initially thought. But, that didn’t flow out of me like I hoped. This is the beauty of writing for five minutes — if I doesn’t work, you’ll know in the first few seconds
Then I remembered the promo video I watched shortly after buying it and thought that might give a bit of inspiration for my five minutes. Yes, I’m that type of nerdy, that I research my products before and even after I buy them. Well, it worked. I pulled it up for you to give context before I set my timer. So today I give you, “Choosing to be Forever RED”
GO:
Take a look:
Don’t you want to be that girl?!?!? Isn’t she all gorgeous with her modern Julia Roberts on the way to the opera dress? I know…right! Persuasive marketing B&BW!
What’s puzzling to me though, is the title of the ad on the B&BW site: “Her story.”
Wait! What? Her “story”. Are you telling me this snapshot of baths, baubles, High-end gifts, cars, and hunks is her…”story”?
No. I don’t believe it. Her story is more than that. Her story is the heartbreak she suffered in ninth grade when her crush dumped her the night before homecoming. Her story is the tragic case of eczema she developed right before swimsuit season. Her story is the late nights on the phone mediating between girlfriends, soothing hurt feelings and re-interpreting misunderstood words. Her story is richer, deeper, better, and real-er than a sixty second promo of glamor.
And I wonder how much of this do we do? How often do we market the forever glamorous, confident, sexy, knowledgeable, put-together us as “our story”. I wonder how often we let others believe the stories they form for the sixty second Sunday morning perfect ad we project. I wonder what would happen if we said, “here is my story. It’s marked with moments of red-faced embarrassment, and ‘seeing red’ rage fits, and red passion for people and ideas, and runny red noses from crying over my insecurities”. What ways would we and our relationships be forever changed? I think dramatically. I think as dramatic as that dress and the way it flowed in the breeze. All natural and beautiful and striking. That’s what marks story-telling as true, authentic, real—the ways is flows naturally, creates beauty where there were ashes, and strikes the hearts of it’s listeners. I want to live in that powerful, “really real”. Oh Lord, how often have I let others believe the superficial, promo ad of my life as “my story”? Too often and I hope to change. Because I want to be Forever RED. Forever Real. Forever Exposed. Forever Daring. In all of my relationships.
STOP
It’s not too late to join this amazing group of writers, who take five minutes every Friday and dare to write.
Osheta Moore 
Beautifully written! It brings to mind the quote (paraphrased), “Don’t compare your behind-the-scenes to everyone else’s highlights reel.” There’s always more to the story.
(And can I just say that I laughed over your “Love Letter to Forever Red!” If you ever DO write that, I definitely want to read it!)
Thanks for stopping by, Rebekah. I probably will write that other post, just because B&BW’s new scent “Forever Midnight” is a bit of disappointment and “Forever Red” needs her props! I love the quote you posted. I’m going to look for it on Pinterest and post it on my board, because I need to be reminded of that often.
I like the metaphor, you use in your post. Sometimes, we are not our Sunday morning red. our story is much deeper. Great
Amen! You’re right. Our red is much deeper and much better!
I’m glad you started over – you gave such good thoughts to dwell on. We long for the glamour, but miss the hard parts that make up the depths of our lives.
Thank you for stopping by, Janice! Jesus meets us and changes us in the hard parts and those are the best parts of our stories.
Gorgeous. I love your insight, and how you expose the humanity in what appears to be perfect.
Thank you! God’s been working on this in me for sure. I so struggled with perfectionism and not allowing myself to be totally free, and expose my true humanity. I’m so glad you stopped by!
Oh, amen… let’s be REAL… even if it involves red-rimmed eyes, red noses and red-faced embarrassments! Thank you for sharing that – so very true. 🙂 God bless.
– Lois
Isn’t is funny that we’re all hoping for someone to authentically connect with, but we’re so afraid of being REAL? But it’s in comforting each other through ugly cries and embarrassing confessions that we grow closer and can encourage each other more effectively. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great weekend!
Osheta, so glad we met today. love your blog and this post is amazing:) if i had a dollar for everyone who has told me how “together” another person/family was that i knew was struggling, i’d be rich.
what is it about looking nice on the outside that convinces people that a person has the rest of their life all “together”? so sad. thanks for a great post:)
Ha! I’d be rich too! I’m glad to meet you too and I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Mom here: I remember those days when you would come home crying because of the way they spoke to you and the manner that you were taught at home. I remember how the other kids at school would call you names and I cried many days for you, thinking of how I went through the same things and how I gave up doing well in school because of it— that is why I pushed you so much. I am so proud of you—you are a great spokesman for Jesus!
Love you mama
Thank you, Mama!
“I want to live in that powerful, “really real”.”
Me too, Osheta.