Richard Martinez
October 14, 2011
(Richard with fellow Team True Beauty Supporter: Dianna De La Garza)
Richard Martinez may not be a conventional celebrity in the sense that he's not on your TV screen every week or in your favorite monthly magazine, but here at Team True Beauty, we couldn't be prouder to have him on board. He doesn't consider himself a celebrity at all, and he says if he was one, he'd would still just be him.
He is an author, he just released his first book, a devotional book "Word of the Day" on Amazon ebooks. It is an amazing read and so inspiring! (You can get it here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005SYVNRC/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_m9LJob1T8VJH4)
I was first brought to the attention of Richard when he was tweeting about the show "So Random" a couple moonths ago. Our president, Brittany, retweeted some of his tweets, without going into detail, he was talking about body image and eating disorders. After I read them, I knew we needed this man on board here at Team True Beauty. A couple of weeks later, he and I were tweeting, and I told him about Team True Beauty and he instantly jumped on board. Within days, he had written up his answers to the spotlight questions, and agreed to write in our upcoming newsletter which comes out THIS Sunday!
Richard is just the right amount of crazy and fun, sweet and kind rolled up into one. He is definitely the epitome of what Team True Beauty is, and it's amazing to hear these words of encouragement from a man who isn't afraid to show his claim to this campaign. Beauty and poor self-esteem is so often associated with only women, and to hear about this topic from a man is so refreshing and inspiring.
I think it's truly a blessing that we ran across Richard on twitter and we couldn't be happier to be able to shine our spotlight on him. Everytime I have read his answers to the spotlight, I have to hold back tears. His words are so extremely powerful and moving.
TTB: Why did you decide to join Team True Beauty?
RICHARD: The biggest problem we share is the battle to maintain a sense of self-esteem and self-worth. I speak to kids all over the world who are suffering from a lack of both. Kids who are ridiculed and mentally abused for what they wear and what they look like. I work hard to help them realize their value. Team True Beauty is working on the same task. We need all the soldiers we can get and we all need to be on the same team.
TTB: What is one piece of advice you would give to people who are struggling to see THEIR true beauty?
RICHARD: The biggest piece of advice is to realize that you have value. No matter what, you have worth and no one can take that away from you. It is easy to say that but much harder to live it. So many people are beaten down with harsh comments and they are ridiculed for what they look like or what they wear. It is hard to see the diamond in the rough but it is there. You have value. You have worth. You have to be able to look in the mirror and say “I am beautiful” because you are. You are worthy and you are allowed to love who you are.
TTB: How do YOU describe Beauty? True Beauty? Is there a difference?
RICHARD: There CAN be a difference. Society has defined beauty over and over. It is on calendars and runways all over the world. It is on the covers of magazines and even in the pages of those “Most Beautiful” issues. We see it in movies and on TV everyday from shows to the nightly news. But is that “true beauty”? We all appreciate the beautiful things but recognizing true beauty is a gift. True beauty is not defined by pictures and outfits. It is not defined by a certain style or look. True beauty is the total being. It is what we are inside. It is not just the image in the mirror but the reflection. It is what we see deep down. I see it every school day with my little neighbor next door. Her school bus drops her off and she gets off the bus with help from the driver due to the braces on her legs. She always waves bye to everyone and hugs the driver. She walks away waving and smiling. The driver always waves and smiles back with such love in her eyes for that little girl. What does that driver see? She sees the true beauty of that little girl, not just the braces on her legs. That is truly a beautiful thing.
TTB: What is one thing that your fans/followers/TTB supporters would be surprised to find out about you?
RICHARD: That is a tough question only due to the fact that I am an open book. If someone wants to know something about me, I will tell them. I am a survivor of a heart attack. My heart stopped for 6 minutes and I was dead. The fact that I am alive today is a miracle. Everyday is a blessing.
TTB: If there is ONE thing that you can leave this spotlight with, concerning ANYTHING (funny or serious) what would it be?
RICHARD: First of all, thank you for even wanting to hear what I have to say. The main thing I want people to take away from this is to realize that they are worthy. They are worthy to be happy and worthy to experience the good things in their lives. To the younger ones who are being bullied in school I would say to speak out and stay strong. I was there with you. I was not the popular person. I was called names like “ugly” and “fat”. I know how much it hurts. I know that when you are young and you hear those things that it hurts more than any physical pain. I was not the most beautiful person by many others standards. But I made it. Once school was over with I walked away and never had to look back. Life is there for you to experience the way you choose to live it not the way you are told to live it. Go to a mirror and look at yourself. Love YOU. Love the total person in that mirror. Not just the image. You are worthy to be here. You are worthy to be happy. You are worthy to love and to be loved. Start with yourself and be worthy for you! Time really does heal all wounds. Allow yourself that time.
Thank you Richard for your amazing advice and inspiring words!
Make sure to Check out Richard:
In our Team True Beauty Newsletter; Sign up Here: http://teamtruebeauty.weebly.com/official-newsletter.html
In his book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005SYVNRC/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_m9LJob1T8VJH4
On Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/richard1826
Written by Megan Nelson
Photo Courtesy of Richard Martinez
Richard Martinez may not be a conventional celebrity in the sense that he's not on your TV screen every week or in your favorite monthly magazine, but here at Team True Beauty, we couldn't be prouder to have him on board. He doesn't consider himself a celebrity at all, and he says if he was one, he'd would still just be him.
He is an author, he just released his first book, a devotional book "Word of the Day" on Amazon ebooks. It is an amazing read and so inspiring! (You can get it here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005SYVNRC/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_m9LJob1T8VJH4)
I was first brought to the attention of Richard when he was tweeting about the show "So Random" a couple moonths ago. Our president, Brittany, retweeted some of his tweets, without going into detail, he was talking about body image and eating disorders. After I read them, I knew we needed this man on board here at Team True Beauty. A couple of weeks later, he and I were tweeting, and I told him about Team True Beauty and he instantly jumped on board. Within days, he had written up his answers to the spotlight questions, and agreed to write in our upcoming newsletter which comes out THIS Sunday!
Richard is just the right amount of crazy and fun, sweet and kind rolled up into one. He is definitely the epitome of what Team True Beauty is, and it's amazing to hear these words of encouragement from a man who isn't afraid to show his claim to this campaign. Beauty and poor self-esteem is so often associated with only women, and to hear about this topic from a man is so refreshing and inspiring.
I think it's truly a blessing that we ran across Richard on twitter and we couldn't be happier to be able to shine our spotlight on him. Everytime I have read his answers to the spotlight, I have to hold back tears. His words are so extremely powerful and moving.
TTB: Why did you decide to join Team True Beauty?
RICHARD: The biggest problem we share is the battle to maintain a sense of self-esteem and self-worth. I speak to kids all over the world who are suffering from a lack of both. Kids who are ridiculed and mentally abused for what they wear and what they look like. I work hard to help them realize their value. Team True Beauty is working on the same task. We need all the soldiers we can get and we all need to be on the same team.
TTB: What is one piece of advice you would give to people who are struggling to see THEIR true beauty?
RICHARD: The biggest piece of advice is to realize that you have value. No matter what, you have worth and no one can take that away from you. It is easy to say that but much harder to live it. So many people are beaten down with harsh comments and they are ridiculed for what they look like or what they wear. It is hard to see the diamond in the rough but it is there. You have value. You have worth. You have to be able to look in the mirror and say “I am beautiful” because you are. You are worthy and you are allowed to love who you are.
TTB: How do YOU describe Beauty? True Beauty? Is there a difference?
RICHARD: There CAN be a difference. Society has defined beauty over and over. It is on calendars and runways all over the world. It is on the covers of magazines and even in the pages of those “Most Beautiful” issues. We see it in movies and on TV everyday from shows to the nightly news. But is that “true beauty”? We all appreciate the beautiful things but recognizing true beauty is a gift. True beauty is not defined by pictures and outfits. It is not defined by a certain style or look. True beauty is the total being. It is what we are inside. It is not just the image in the mirror but the reflection. It is what we see deep down. I see it every school day with my little neighbor next door. Her school bus drops her off and she gets off the bus with help from the driver due to the braces on her legs. She always waves bye to everyone and hugs the driver. She walks away waving and smiling. The driver always waves and smiles back with such love in her eyes for that little girl. What does that driver see? She sees the true beauty of that little girl, not just the braces on her legs. That is truly a beautiful thing.
TTB: What is one thing that your fans/followers/TTB supporters would be surprised to find out about you?
RICHARD: That is a tough question only due to the fact that I am an open book. If someone wants to know something about me, I will tell them. I am a survivor of a heart attack. My heart stopped for 6 minutes and I was dead. The fact that I am alive today is a miracle. Everyday is a blessing.
TTB: If there is ONE thing that you can leave this spotlight with, concerning ANYTHING (funny or serious) what would it be?
RICHARD: First of all, thank you for even wanting to hear what I have to say. The main thing I want people to take away from this is to realize that they are worthy. They are worthy to be happy and worthy to experience the good things in their lives. To the younger ones who are being bullied in school I would say to speak out and stay strong. I was there with you. I was not the popular person. I was called names like “ugly” and “fat”. I know how much it hurts. I know that when you are young and you hear those things that it hurts more than any physical pain. I was not the most beautiful person by many others standards. But I made it. Once school was over with I walked away and never had to look back. Life is there for you to experience the way you choose to live it not the way you are told to live it. Go to a mirror and look at yourself. Love YOU. Love the total person in that mirror. Not just the image. You are worthy to be here. You are worthy to be happy. You are worthy to love and to be loved. Start with yourself and be worthy for you! Time really does heal all wounds. Allow yourself that time.
Thank you Richard for your amazing advice and inspiring words!
Make sure to Check out Richard:
In our Team True Beauty Newsletter; Sign up Here: http://teamtruebeauty.weebly.com/official-newsletter.html
In his book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005SYVNRC/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_m9LJob1T8VJH4
On Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/richard1826
Written by Megan Nelson
Photo Courtesy of Richard Martinez