25/10/2019
We are often our toughest critics. But we also forget that the way others look at us is very different than the way we look at ourselves. We spend most of our time criticizing and analyzing our flaws rather than appreciating and loving ourselves for exactly who we are. For some reason, it is others who can look at all of us and see only our beauty. Why is it so hard for us to do the same?
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My partner made me this drawing as a gift and at first reaction, I chuckled at how chunky he portrayed our kitty, then I realized the detail in his drawing of me; the beauty mark near my chin and my heart shaped smile. I thought, ‘why is it just now that I’m noticing these positive details over my usual first reaction of negativity?’. The truth is, there are moments I look into the mirror and completely hate the pale, curvy body reflecting back at me. I dread pulling on a bikini or a pair of shorts and then hoping no one will notice the stretch marks or cellulite on my thighs. On the outside, I wear a smile, I act confident and stoic. I stare and marvel at the bodies of other women and compare them to my own. I give in to the idea that I’ll never be as beautiful. You see, the problem is that we believe we will never be good enough, not if we don’t change exactly who we are. Not unless we add a dab of makeup here and few eyelash extensions there. We look to unrealistic standards on social media as the ideal standard of beauty. But, in reality, those closest to us don’t see what we see, they don’t criticize what we criticize. They don’t see the cellulite and stretch marks that we obsess over, or the roll of fat just beneath our bra. They love us and look at us beyond those unrealistic standards. They see beauty.
It takes a long time to love the skin that we are in, but hopefully soon, it will come naturally for us to notice the beauty and positives of who we are. Slowly but surely, we will know it and see it ourselves, just as others see it now. It’s funny and sad that those around us see ‘more than enough’ while we ponder whether or not we are good enough at all. Let’s try our best to look beyond and see only beauty, for in every imperfection there is perfection.