Here we go on the YOU:Being Beautiful book. To be honest- I want it to be over! As you read through the next few posts, I'm sure you ll understand why!

Positively, I love how this books has a ton and a half elements in it like illustrations, quizzes, and fun facts, because for fucks sake its like a massive textbook on trying to become a better person! Pardon my Le French.

The intro describes finding authentic beauty, which apparently comes from "closing the gap" between the Current YOU and the Potential YOU. ( that's on page 9) The Current YOU, is being the who-you-are-right-now I guess, and the Potential YOU is who you aspire to become. The Quiz is supposed to measure how far off you are from your ideal self. I can tell you before even attempting this quiz I'm about 10 miles off! I am almost 24 now and I totally remember daydreaming as a teenager about what I'd be like at this age. Funny enough to me, I thought out of everything I'd be happier of all things. Happier and richer and have a 6-pack. Naturally. Anyways, on with this quiz!

It also says on page nine that this quiz is based on validated studies, ( although I havent seen or read them) and a world expert psychologist from the University of Texas ensured it's accuracy. hmmmmm. As you might be able to guess, I am always skeptical of these 'studies' and 'accuracies', having spent my fourth year of university learning how impossible it is to get research approved, and how specific you have to be to publish any sort of research in order to 'prove' or 'disprove' something. But OK Dr.Oz, I guess I'll believe you, and thanks for telling me instead of assuming I wouldn't care if the test was legit!!

It said to use pencil so you can re-take it... but I'm going to use black pen.



---Post Test--- hum the jeopardy theme if you must...
The YOU quiz shows you how close your current you and potential you are to being the same. So I have a YOU-Q of68. The highest (obviously near impossible) score of being your potential you-q is 160. The lowest is 15. The average for a women is a YOU-Q of 95, and for men 99... just to give you an idea about where my self-esteem is at. I knew it would be low, I obviously don't need a test for that, but I kind of thought in my head that it was humbling and almost a good thing to not think too highly of myself, but on a real level... i really don't think much of myself at all I guess, which isn't a good thing if I want to be more like my potential self. Maybe it's a good thing I'm reading this book!

At first,I was thinking though- I'm in my sweats, I haven't showered today, eaten a proper meal, conversed with anyone, put on makeup, or even deodorant for that matter. I'm going out for sushi ( my absolute favourite) at my favourite Campbell river restaurant WASABIYA tonight and I plan on dressing up a little. I wonder after a nice night out with Shaun, looking good, and maybe after a little 'sexy-time' if my score would change? Of course I would want it to, and I'm sure it would a little bit but to be honest I don't think self-esteem changes overnight. When I think about 'my current self' i don't think of done up Alana, I think of natural, homely, sitting at home in my sweats Alana. That's the Alana that I wish was more confident, and attractive.