I see you over there. I see you discreetly downloading that application on your phone to change your photos. Trying to cover those blemishes, airbrushing that birthmark the drug store foundation won't cover; piling on layer after layer of filters to achieve that "perfect" look and hoping that no one will ever notice where you smudged out the extra hips or arm fat. Pretending you really did "wake up like this."
Be proud of those under-eye circles. You earned them for all the sleepless nights conquering tasks that daylight didn't have time for. Slim build being called "skinny" as if your bones can only be covered with only a singular thin layer of protection. False. Heavy is now called "fat," But big boobs and ass are called "thick". It's all fat but you must control where that fat lands. North of the ribs and south of the waist. You will never be perfect; You will never be enough if you try and fit the mold of other's opinions. Richard Haul once said, "He who riddles himself to conform with others eventually whittles himself away." I don't know about you, but to me, that quote speaks volumes.
Take that mask off. People are now lost in trends, lost in self-image. Funny, it's called "self" image but it’s based on your audience and how they "make" you feel. Soak that in. Uggs, Jordan's, toms, Michael Kors, and Apple products are all the standard to be met; Not because they are always top-of-the-line or better quality, but because it attracts greed and jealousy.
Everyone just wants to be admired for possessions rather than great ideas. You look cute but what else do you have to offer? Wing your eyeliner all you want but learn facts to prove you're bold inside and out. People are being shot over shoes. Don't believe me? Look up Joshua D. Woods. His mother created a non-profit campaign called "Life over Fashion," in order to honor her son who was killed senselessly by someone who just wanted a pair of expensive sneakers. This baffles me. I am blown away that someone had the conscious thought to kill over something that purely covers a foot. Can you fathom losing a loved one over shoes?
Always wanting what you can't have. Never wanting what was God's gift to you. Straight-haired girls braiding their hair and adding "volumizing" serums to their roots to add some texture; while girls born with "natural" hair or ringlet curls spend hours trying to straighten away their genetics. Bleaching and killing any healthy hair you have atop your head to achieve perfection. That's not real. It's a facade. That's not yours, it’s chemical and sewn-in borrowed hair. Make changes for yourself. Stop harming and covering that beautiful skin.
You will always be too big, too slim, tooloud, too soft spoken — always toomuch for somebody. Wear the crop top, embrace the curves. Take off that loose jacket that you think hides your faults. It's 80 degrees outside girlfriend, there's no way you're comfortable. Eat the damn cake in public. Run girl, run as fast as those feet can take you. Stop apologizing.
Be healthy, be bold, be beautiful and be yourself. Feed that brilliant, larger-than-life brain and share your ideas. Your ideas are unique and wanted. Refuse to bend to someone else's will. You are better than that! Let me repeat, you are better than that. You are doing yourself and this vast world such an injustice by silencing that voice that you hear from society, telling you all you "should be" not all you already are.
Just accept it my friend; You’ll never be perfect.