Ladylike living is a topic that has always fascinated me. One of the nicest compliments I have ever received was "Darcy, you are always such a lady." Ever since then, I have wondered that that means, exactly. There are plenty of women I greatly admire, and several whom I would label as "ladies." but what exactly is a lady?
I have looked at many books, trying to pin a definition to such a vague term. However, none of those books' definitions satisfy me. Especially because these books all seem to term ladylike behavior as "old-fashioned." Is being ladylike really so out-of-date that we don't need to learn proper behavior anymore? The world seems to think so. I disagree.
If I know one thing about the world, it is that the world has not been kind to the men and women in it. To men, the world says that they are not good enough; it says that they are sloppy, crude, and childish. The world tells men that they are too lazy. Not strong enough. Not good-looking enough. Take a look at television. Men are always portrayed as stupid and lazy. They are inundated with these messages.
To women, the world says that they are not sexy enough. That they are not balanced enough, busy enough, or motivated enough. The world tells women that they need to be more alluring, put together, and skinnier. That they need to work harder and be more ruthless in order to prove their worth.
I see the influence of these messages in my own life. I can feel the world telling me what to believe, and how to behave. And whatever ladylike behavior is, the world is most definitely pushing away from it. And the easy option would be to just give in and live like the world is demanding. Especially since living like ladies and gentlemen seems like a quaint dream--impossible, really.
But I believe it isn't impossible. In fact, I KNOW it isn't impossible. I believe that as men and women, we are sons and daughters of God. And I know that there is a way of living that is befitting to His children. And I want to discover what that way is.
Jeremy has a blog that he loves--it is called The Art of Manliness. He once told me that it teaches him how to be a gentleman in an ungentlemanly world. How fantastic would that be if there was a blog like that for women? I know that I would be a regular subscriber.
Before I get too carried away, I would like to note that I do not expect to become such a blog. However, I DO want to start exploring ladylike behavior. And there is a part of me that hopes that I am not alone in my desire to see ladylike behavior make a comeback in the world. Because the world is wrong about men and women--and by being ladies and gentlemen, we can prove the world wrong together.
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