Who Defines Beauty?

One thing I love about flowers is that they're all different colors, shapes and sizes, but we don't judge them by how they look. We find beauty in them and appreciate them just the way they are.

If only people could be like that.

There are many things I regret in my life. One of them is looking at fashion magazines, posters, or ads, and being jealous of the model's looks. Their slender legs, perfect jawline, flat stomach, full lips, and graceful collarbone are enough to send those spark of jealousy into a roaring flame of insecurity inside of me. 

"I wish I looked like her, she's probably way happier because she has a thigh gap and flat stomach." I think to myself as I view myself in the mirror, sadly looking at all my flaws.

"I bet the reasons no boys like me is because I'm too fat. That must be why."

"I'm never wearing a swimsuit again. Everyone will laugh at me."

It's actually really sad I sometimes think that way, and I know I'm not alone. So, I want to ask you today, who defines beauty? Is it the girls from those glossy fashion magazine pages? Or perhaps the million dollar movie stars in Hollywood?

Nope, it's not them. Maybe it's that group of girls that are really popular at school. They aren't models, but they're skinnier then me. So, is it them? No, it's not them.

It's us. All of us. 

Our culture is so obsessed with being thin and young, we've nearly lost the idea of what true beauty really is. Since when did the models and movie stars start telling the world that you had to be skinny to be beautiful? And why do we listen to them?

Our eyes are immediately drawn to the attractive looking fashion covers thinking, "If only I looked like that. Then, I would be happy."

You wouldn't.

I am now about to reveal to you a huge secret. Everyone has insecurities and flaws. But, a paid smile and Photoshop does a good job of erasing them. The commercials, ads, and magazines we see are all fake. They're a fantasy the world has created that says, "If you buy our product, you'll look like her."

But, she isn't real. It's a person covered up with makeup, and thinned with Photoshop to create something The world defines as beauty. These models and even normal people you think look perfect have their own flaws too, just like you.

In fact, most people are probably spending more time thinking about the way they look instead of thinking about you. But, why worry about the way you look? You don't look like those models in magazines because you're not them. You're YOU!

Every single person on this earth was created uniquely. We all look a little different from each other. So, why would you want to look like someone else when we're so unique? There is only one of us in the whole world! 

You know what else is amazing about us? Our flaws. Yes, that's right. Nothing on this earth is perfect. But, Hollywood and those magazines tells us otherwise. They create those fake fantasies to draw us in. "This is what beauty is. This is perfection."

They are all lairs.

Our imperfections are part of who we are. But, it's up to you to choose to let them make you weak or stronger.

I hope you choose to be stronger. I've had enough of letting the world define beauty, because I am beautiful just the way I am. I choose to embrace my flaws and let them make me stronger. I choose to be a happy person, because their is so much beauty in joy. 

I am beautiful.

You are beautiful too.

Don't let the world define beauty, because you're already are beautiful just the way you are.