Di Bassinga Diaries: The Importance of Appearance

Since at least junior year of high school, I’ve been invested in the importance of appearance. The need to, at the very least, be presentable is one that cannot be overlooked, in my opinion. This isn’t so much an issue of worrying about what people think of you as it is building an appearance that speaks for you (or understanding that it already does, whether you like it or not); it’s like your character, perhaps another aspect of it. Why you would walk around being rude, pessimistic, or indifferent, leaving people underwhelmed or disappointed after having interacted with you, when you could be positive, radiant, and welcoming? Just as much as your character is, your appearance is a representation of you, the brand, the reputation – we all have one. Honestly, I could argue that your projects and business ventures all fall into the same vein as your appearance and reputation – it’s an extension of these traits, or perhaps just strongly correlated and intertwined.

I am making this decision: That in all my ventures, I will seek to be at peace with reality (that is to be humble, compassionate, kind, gentle, and patient). I’ll do it all for the glory of God, in presentation of myself as an ambassador for Christ. I used to worry that my desires were egotistical in nature, vain at their core, that cleaning myself up would do nothing for the Kingdom. However, I’ve come to believe that, in cleaning myself up and organizing my appearance, I could bring attention to myself in a manner that isn’t forced, but rather it’s inviting. With eyes on me I can, through my character and actions and values, bring eyes and ears to the Gospel; this is my “why?” — the reason for my emphasis on living out the charge laid out in 1 Timothy 1:5 (which states that “the aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith”). These words speak of authenticity, integrity, uprightness, and faith – what I believe to be a solid recap of who I’ve grown to be in the Lord, it’s become the aim of my “brand”. I simply pray that this would always be the case; that the core of my brand would always be the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and I pray for you, my brothers and sisters, that it would be so with you as well.