My whole life, I struggled with acne. Oh yeah folks, we're talking Struggled, with a capital "S". It plagued me as a teenager. It got a little better as I went to college, but still bothered me and never completely went away. I always noticed the clear skin of other girls or celebrities I saw in the media. I'd always wished for that smooth, blemish-free skin. I was embarrassed by the marks on my face, especially the uneven redness of it. I never went anywhere without makeup on. I always tried to cover the acne up, but it never quite covered it the way I wanted it to, and it definitely couldn't take away the rough, unevenness of it. It was a major insecurity of mine and often the source of low self-esteem.
Well, one time in particular coming back from the dermatologist with a new skin care procedure in tow, I got home, ran upstairs, and couldn't wait to get started. But sure enough, not even ten minutes after applying everything, my face broke out like CRAZY. I was swollen, red, itchy, and my acne was magnified ten-fold. I remember looking in the mirror and being so unhappy, embarrassed, and completely mortified. I didn't even want to show my face to my family. I was so painfully embarrassed.
So I cried.
I cried so hard and so long. I cried because of my insecurity. I cried because it didn't seem like I would ever add up. I felt like no one would think I was pretty. I felt exposed. I cried because I didn't feel beautiful.
After wetting a rag, patting my face, and trying to remove any sign of my hysterics, I finally braved going downstairs. As I walked downstairs, my sister and her hubby were playing a board game. I'd half expected them to look up at my red, puffy, acne-filled face and drop their jaws at the horror. But of course they didn't. My sister looked up at me and said, "Finally! Wanna jump in on the game?" She didn't stare, and she didn't say a word. I told her I'd sit out for this round and hop in the next. So I sat on the piano bench and watched as they played.
And that's when it happened.
My sweet little nephew climbed right up on the piano bench next to me, completely catching me off guard. He pulled himself up onto my lap and cupped his little hands and fingers around my cheeks. He looked me straight in the eyes with the most sincere, sweet look on his face, and said, "Ashin, you are BOOOtiful."
And I cried…again.
To that little 2 year old, I was beautiful not because of what I looked like on the outside but because I was his aunt. Because I hugged and kissed him every time I saw him. Because I laughed with him. Because I cuddled and watched Backyardigans with him. Because I played toys with him. Because I loved him.
And I believe that. I believe that loving, supporting, and serving the people around us makes us happy and beautiful. You're beautiful because you are your own person. There is not one person who has the same heart and mind as you. Don't let anyone strip that from you. Don't let the media tell you what you should look like or how you should act. Don't let the girl in your Chemistry class make you feel stupid because you don't understand what you're doing. Don't let the girl on TV make you feel like you're not pretty enough. Don't let the girls who have boyfriends make you feel like something's wrong with you because you're not in a relationship. Don't let the mom down the street who always seems to have it together make you feel like you don't have it together. Don't let the empty-nesters who seem to have found their niche make you feel like you don't have one. I can't remember who said this, but whoever it was really hit the nail on the head…
Well, one time in particular coming back from the dermatologist with a new skin care procedure in tow, I got home, ran upstairs, and couldn't wait to get started. But sure enough, not even ten minutes after applying everything, my face broke out like CRAZY. I was swollen, red, itchy, and my acne was magnified ten-fold. I remember looking in the mirror and being so unhappy, embarrassed, and completely mortified. I didn't even want to show my face to my family. I was so painfully embarrassed.
So I cried.
I cried so hard and so long. I cried because of my insecurity. I cried because it didn't seem like I would ever add up. I felt like no one would think I was pretty. I felt exposed. I cried because I didn't feel beautiful.
After wetting a rag, patting my face, and trying to remove any sign of my hysterics, I finally braved going downstairs. As I walked downstairs, my sister and her hubby were playing a board game. I'd half expected them to look up at my red, puffy, acne-filled face and drop their jaws at the horror. But of course they didn't. My sister looked up at me and said, "Finally! Wanna jump in on the game?" She didn't stare, and she didn't say a word. I told her I'd sit out for this round and hop in the next. So I sat on the piano bench and watched as they played.
And that's when it happened.
My sweet little nephew climbed right up on the piano bench next to me, completely catching me off guard. He pulled himself up onto my lap and cupped his little hands and fingers around my cheeks. He looked me straight in the eyes with the most sincere, sweet look on his face, and said, "Ashin, you are BOOOtiful."
And I cried…again.
To that little 2 year old, I was beautiful not because of what I looked like on the outside but because I was his aunt. Because I hugged and kissed him every time I saw him. Because I laughed with him. Because I cuddled and watched Backyardigans with him. Because I played toys with him. Because I loved him.
And I believe that. I believe that loving, supporting, and serving the people around us makes us happy and beautiful. You're beautiful because you are your own person. There is not one person who has the same heart and mind as you. Don't let anyone strip that from you. Don't let the media tell you what you should look like or how you should act. Don't let the girl in your Chemistry class make you feel stupid because you don't understand what you're doing. Don't let the girl on TV make you feel like you're not pretty enough. Don't let the girls who have boyfriends make you feel like something's wrong with you because you're not in a relationship. Don't let the mom down the street who always seems to have it together make you feel like you don't have it together. Don't let the empty-nesters who seem to have found their niche make you feel like you don't have one. I can't remember who said this, but whoever it was really hit the nail on the head…
“Sometimes people are beautiful. Not in looks. Not in what they say. Just in who they are.”
ADSENSE HERE