Lipstick hasn’t been one of my things. I’m a ‘natural beauty’ so I’ve been told… so the make-up thing actually hasn’t actually been a ‘thing’ for me until the celebration Gala dinner in the biggest ballroom in Paris at the end of our epic Peking to Paris car rally. I just couldn’t wear my beautiful gown/frock without any lippy!

Yesterday, I experienced something quite wonderful after wearing my lipstick and giving a kiss on someones cheek. But first… my journey to the realms of lipstick!

So .. the week before we left for Beijing I found myself on one of those raised stools in a specialist make-up store… not in a department store because the perfumes make me sick… but in a painting shop for faces. A beautiful girl called Ebony was so gracious in helping me navigate this new world of make-up. I came away with 2 lipstick colours – ‘Your Majesty’ and ‘Hibiscus’. Soft luscious colour in a shiny gold container. I just couldn’t decide… oh – and a pencil not unlike the pastels I use in my art studio. I was sure I would be able to colour in my lips on the celebration night!

Well… the lippy worked in Paris and so many people were shocked at how I looked and commented on my amazing smile. It was kind of fun feeling the freedom to smile and share my lips again with the world. To expose an intimate part of myself and be bold with my lips.

You see… I’ve been very self conscious of my smile for many years now. I used to be called ‘smiler’ at university and until a year or so ago, joy and laughter shone from my lips. I had a bit of a rough trot for a while and I think I forgot how to truly laugh and smile from my heart.

I had surgery on my lower lip and the nerves are damaged and is quite numb. I have little feeling in most of my bottom lip. My lip looks different. With a huge chunk taken from it. It feels different. It’s hard to speak clearly. I dribble a bit occasionally. I wanted it to be back the way it was. Full of joy. Kissing feels different. I wanted it to feel the way it felt before. It didn’t, doesn’t – and never will. A huge chunk is gone and I can see the scars and stitches which run down deep inside down to my gum. My lip was never going to be the same as what it was; and it was time to deal with that – in Paris with my lipstick on.

So… in the marble bathroom of our hotel room I outlined my beautiful lips, with the chunk out and its scars… and decided to truly laugh with joy again. I exposed my lips. My lips shined.

…and every now and then I wear lippy… to celebrate my lips with my history and acceptance… and yesterday I wore my lippy for one of our lunch catch-ups with my mum. We had a lovely time. I felt good.

On the way home I stopped and I saw an elderly lady accidentally drop the contents of her bag on the ground and I went to help her.

We had a little chat and I gave her a hug and a kiss goodbye. I noticed I smooched a huge big lipstick kiss on her cheek – because I was new to the mwwwahhh type of kissing I think is the code for kissing with lipstick… and I went to wipe it off. She held my hand and said “No.. don’t wipe it off dear…. I want everyone to see that someone has loved me today.”

So… ladies.. (and for those men who wear lipstick)… celebrate your lips….share your kisses, leave them on cheeks, and let people know they are loved.