I got a train on this windy Saturday and settled myself by the window. I gazed out of the window watching raindrops beat against the window. I brought out an action novel and got ready to consume about 30 pages of roller-coaster fiction within the hour plus journey.

Midway through the journey, I was interrupted by the ladies sitting behind me. I wasn't aware when they boarded the train. However their conversation painted a picture of what they might look like in my mind. They seemed to be going to a party later that night and talked about it. One of them sounded confident, outgoing and friendly. She talked about all the people who she was looking forward to meeting. Her conversation was regularly broken with rich bursts of laughter. I mean genuine laughter from the heart, not that fake stuff you hear now and again. I imagined she was a beautiful young lady who desired the best, looked the best and attracted the best.

The other girl whined and complained about what dress and handbag she was going to wear. Her repeated negative statements came across like she had a washing machine strapped to her back and drank expired tea for breakfast. I so wanted to take a peak to see what they looked like but they were seating right behind me! After a while I switched off from their conversation and settled back into my book.

As the train pulled into the final station, I got up to get out of the train and saw the 2 chatting ladies. As I imagined one of them looked very beautiful with curly hair and dressed in a unique patterned multi-coloured dress with a Gucci designer handbag to match. Wow! She was the bomb. My first impression of the other lady was that she appeared boring and plain. I don't want to describe how she looked but let's just say you wouldn't want her to stand next to you when taking a group photo. Then I got the shock of my life.

'Boring and plain girl' started talking and she was the confident, outgoing and friendly one. Immediately I saw her in a different light and I found myself smiling towards her. I have to say she smiled back and I loved her smile. I found myself wanting to go to her party.

So what does this have to do with you?

Well, sometimes we spend so much time trying to take care of the outside without considering the inside. We buy designer items like a Fendi or Prada purse or a Burberry handbag or a pair of Gucci sunglasses and wallets thinking it'll impress people around us or make us better. While a Gucci handbag or designer attire will make you feel good for a while, it'll never buy or replace a genuine sense of worth in yourself that comes from being a giver and been grateful for the big and little things in your life.

Today try and give someone a smile, a helping hand or something to make them feel better. Your sense of worth and value will get a boost and when you go out to a party or an event dressed in a designer dress with a matching designer purse, you wont rely on "it" to give you confidence or win friends. Your inner joy and glow will bubble over and get you the attention you truly deserve!