Fake-Baked

Fake baked= not too spiritual here. This may not be my most spiritual blog post but I feel the need to share my own story of tanning, fake tanning, laying in the sun, all the above. WE WANT TO BE TANNED!!!!!!!

I know its that time of year to get bronzed and beautiful. We think tan is beauty but its not. It almost caused my life five years ago this July. I had been living in Florida for about a year at the time. I got off the plane for a two week visit. A much needed time in Arkansas. I had missed my southern family, hospitality, and friends. But a lot had changed. Right as I got off the plane my dad did not greet me with a hug but whats on your neck? I was like a mole? I don't know. I had been living in 80 degrees year round. Who needed sun block? I was tan all year. I was happy! I was beautiful! Well with my dads concern, I was told to go to my doctor that next day. I got into my doctor he said I'm not messing with this, you need to see a dermatologist. Me being ME. I don't expect the worst. I was thinking oh mom and I will go to Little Rock for the day. Get this mole looked at, shop on my parents, eat lunch, enjoy girl time. Well I had that mole removed and we went on with our day. I remember shopping and going back home to resume life. They told me I would have results back within a week or so. I was going back to Florida thinking it was no big deal. Well ring ring ring ring...I was sitting on my bed with a dear friend. Just catching up on life. Mom said your doctor wants to talk to you. Dr. Manning said hey Whitney I need to send you to UAMS because you have Clark 3 Melanoma. I was like WHAT? not me???? I had no words. My poor friend Casey just sat there. A memory we still talk about. Well I'm not going back to Florida anytime soon. I was gearing up for surgery.

There were many many more emotions than all of that. But I did get the news of having melanoma. I mean who wants to hear you have cancer and at 23 years old? I had faked baked for many years. I thought that's where my beauty came from. I thought tan=beauty. But in reality it risked my entire life. And how I look at life. I was scared to death. I didn't know how to tell people, or what to say, or to even tell anyone. I had God but to experience that is scary. I went through surgery and came out cancer free. Praise God. I have had several moles removed since then.

So ladies with this story of scare I'm asking you to rethink this spring of getting into tanning beds, putting on that baby oil, but turn it around with sun block!!! Stay out of the tanning beds. Find your inner beauty not through a tan or being darker but through Jesus. As a guy friend tells me "you have to be attractive on the outside but what really radiates the beauty is whats on the inside." So your inner beauty out weighs the tan, bronze, dark tan you are working for. It almost cost my life. It's a silent killer and many people don't realize that a simple 15 minutes in the tanning bed could be putting cancer in your body.

Its not about glitz its about the inside. Find your beauty in being pale, white, beautiful, olive, yellow, and ultimately find it in Jesus. He is where I find my beauty every day. Of Course I want to be darker or tan, but is it worth my life anymore? Absolutely NO!!! So I wear that 30 SPF! I go out in the SUN. I'm just more careful than I was in my teens and earlier 20s. Hard to believe I'm only 27 and had Melanoma!! Protect yourselves ladies!!

Remember to find your pale beauty in Jesus!!! No need to bronze yourself! Wasting your money and life :)