Three hundred (give or take) words on what beauty means to me
Beauty Is Something Complex
Beauty is a complex thing with too many standards, too many restrictions and too many expectations. My Chinese female self associates beauty with clear skin, a pale complexion, wide eyes, and a skinny body. And, of course, who doesn’t like a symmetrical face? My body does not fit those beauty standards and my face is so asymmetrical, I make myself cringe in the mirror.
But, sometimes, on occasions, I feel beautiful. I’m wearing my favorite shirt and nothing can ruin my day.
All Up In Our Heads
Do we all worry about what people think of us? We all have fleeting thoughts about strangers we see so of course we would worry about what people think about us in return. That thought about what random strangers see when they look at me proceeds to make me want to sink into the ground and not come out for the rest of the day. What other people think about me shouldn’t matter as much as it does to me, in all honesty. And I recognize that. It’s just not easy to stop a train of thought.
But, Who Cares?
At the end of the day though, it’s what I think about myself and what the people I love think about me that matter. I can be wearing the ugliest shirt in the world, but if it makes me happy, I feel beautiful. The added bonus is when my friends just accept the fact that I’m in what could possibly be a pajama top, and move on. It’s mutual, really. They could be mid-bite of ice cream in a picture, but I would frame that picture in a heartbeat.
Be You
Beauty is what you make of it and what makes you happy. Beauty is not caring about what people think because random strangers don’t matter (no matter what your brain tells you). Beauty is finding joy with the important people in your life. Beauty is treating yourself with kindness and respect and treating others the same. Beauty is trying your best at living your life.
Exercise caution on the web, and be beautiful out there.
Leave a Reply