Mirror Mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?

Mirror Mirror, will you ever show me a prettier face?

Mirror Mirror, would you show me a thinner waist?

Mirror Mirror can you fix my hair?

Mirror Mirror will you ever hear my prayer?

Mirror Mirror, when will you show me something beautiful?

Time and time again, we've sat ourselves in front of a mirror. It's been our best frenemy since we were little, showing us what we are told to believe are flaws and imperfections. We think our eyes are too small or not the right color. We think our hair is too frizzy or too straight or too dull. We think our lips aren't full enough, and that our cheeks are too full, face too round, tummies too big, thighs ain't far enough apart, chest isn't big enough, but why do we do this to ourselves?

For as long as I can remember, I've never liked how I looked. I could legitimately look at a mirror, and not be able to find a single thing I liked. I just simply didn't match up with society's idea of beautiful. That has a hard effect on young girls, and even guys. Having to fit into the cookie cutter mold of what is beautiful or pretty or handsome. And hearing some gorgeous, model-looking person tell me, "beauty is on the inside, not the outside," while they've got tons of people drooling over them, doesn't do me too much good.

It took me far too long to realize that what everyone says about being beautiful isn't just how you look, but who you are, is true.

In my 17 years of life, it's only been this past year that I've been able to be okay with what is looking back at me in the mirror. I remember one of the first times I thought to myself "I look pretty" because I realized that I'd never felt that before, and it was a wonderful feeling. How did I get here? I learned to love myself. I fell in love with who I was, and how I look. But for me, the biggest thing that's changed my view of myself happened not too long ago.

I knew that a friend of mine had a crush on me, and so out of curiosity, I asked why. For some reason, their response has stuck with me.

"Your honesty."

They didn't answer with the typical teenage response: oh you're pretty, funny. whatever. They didn't comment at all on my appearance, and never have. Instead, it was my qualities. It shook me up when I got to thinking about it.

The people that matter most to you are not going to care what you look like. They care about who you are. If your soul is beautiful, you will always be beautiful to them.

May I remind you all that:

If you're short, you're beautiful.

If you're tall, you're beautiful.

If you're fat, you're beautiful.

If you're skinny, you're beautiful.

If you've got short hair, you're beautiful.

If you've got long hair, you're beautiful.

If you've got no hair, you're beautiful.

If you're pale, you're beautiful.

If you're dark skinned, you're beautiful.

If you're alive, you're beautiful.

So if your hair is a bit frizzy and your makeup is a bit smudged and your pants fit a little tight, it doesn't change a thing. Someone thinks you're beautiful. Be yourself. Those who meet your soul, don't care what you look like. So go ahead, wear that dress, eat what you want, laugh hard, and make that silly face in front of them. It's time we break our mirrors. Don't let a reflection define you.