During a recent scroll through Instagram, I saw a post that read, “I can’t believe I let people convince me my skin isn’t beautiful.” I can relate. One of my high school classmates routinely made negative comments about my skin tone and overall appearance. Did she taunt me with my visible insecurities? Or did she project her feelings of inadequacy onto me? Whatever the reason, I fed into them, and I saw myself as unattractive.
Three months ago, I published I Am a Masterpiece: Why I Choose Self-Acceptance Over Social Acceptance, which included a picture of me at age 11 and a picture of me at my current age, 43. It wasn’t until I looked at the pictures side-by-side that I noticed my appearance hasn’t changed that much. It was an eye-opening moment.
The woman I am today sees and embraces everything about her, and sees the beauty of all of it. When I look into a mirror, a pretty lady is staring back at me, and she— is me.
I am still amazed at how much words can impact the listener—be it good or bad. When I look at these pictures, I look virtually the same—I think my skin was clearer then—but the 11-year-old me didn’t see how beautiful she was because she listened to the people who told her she wasn’t. Now in my 40s, my view is completely different.
Although I know some disagree with me identifying myself as beautiful today, that will not sway me to think differently.
I want to encourage you to embrace who you are daily. Love yourself and see the good in you despite what others may have said in the past or say to you in the future.
Until the next time be you—but more important—love you.
Being uniquely you is being uniquely beautiful.
-B.B. 💋
