I was clung with some personal concerns and was unable to pour this out. Well, after a short while, I’m back here to share something which we are seldom bothered to talk about but is the need of the hour.
Now tell me, are you bothered about the acne on your face? Have you ever tried to portray yourself with filters while taking a snap just to conceal your dark circles? Or are you frequently bothered about how your hair is dressed up or how much weight you gained or how much weight loss you had or how to gain that hourglass look? Have you ever been hesitant and anxious about the length of your beard or thickness of your moustache? Have you ever been judged by your looks? Have you ever felt embarrassed for your brown or darker complexion? Have you ever been diffident about your own body for those unwanted wrinkles or patch marks?
If you have a yes for any of my above queries, feel free to read this. This one’s for you!
To be precise, I’m an average looking girl with brown complexion. As I hark back to my childhood days, I never knew what this complexion is or the fact that beauty is defined by mere measurements of height, weight and waist. Until my college days, I swear I never stressed myself for having a perfect body. I used to be surprised when few of my friends bagged cosmetics to college to enhance their looks during leisure. One fine day, I was asked by one of my friends, “How did you happen to be darkened while your family isn’t?”.
The surprising fact is, that was actually a momentary joke. But the mental trauma I got from that piece of joke didn’t end so shortly. It was in fact the very first time I started scrutinizing my looks. From then, I strained over every little thing my body owned. I started feeling insecure and crippled for no cause. I felt the dark skin depicts unlovely and less captivating while the fair skin (so-called for white complexion) rendered ravishing and heavenly.
Sooner, the process of counting all the imperfections geared up. I was stupid enough to take every criticism to heart with a mission and vision that I will make a perfect body someday.
I perceived I’m dark and extremely thin with veins sprouting out on my hands and I have some protruding teeth. Thus, to boost my confidence, I came up with a few solutions of my own: Start some home remedies for skin whitening, prefer full sleeve outfits and stop smiling!
The natural home remedy of turmeric, yogurt and gram flour was my first choice. I trusted them for the instant glow on every indispensable occasion. I don’t know whether I got an instant glow, but I got instant confidence with the feeling that these turmeric, yogurt and gram flour will sweep away my self-consciousness. Preferring fully sleeved outfits was a Herculean task, for I’m in love with sleeveless and crop tops! Last one was so effortless. I just have to hide my teeth. This subsequently went on until that day!
It was in 2016. I was pursuing my last semester of engineering graduation. I had that unhealthy habit of skipping breakfast for a very long while since we always had jam-packed schedules with deadlines of seminars, assignments and projects. Consequently, one day I had a drastic stomach ache. However, I left it with all ease and unruffled while the pain became a denizen inside my tummy. After about two to three weeks I took a medical check-up which was diagnosed with initial symptoms of appendicitis followed by direction for a minor surgery. Owning an emotional quotient too low, I felt so terrific at heart. All I wanted was just to reclaim my health. It was during those days I realized how perfect I was and how ungrateful I was all that while. I took a second opinion for my medical condition and was assisted to have a proper diet for a month. With the grace of Almighty, I cured the ache without any incision. But that incident was an epiphany in my life. Only when your health drowns, you will grasp, you don’t need a flawless body and all you preach is a good health for a lifetime.
So, that was just one chapter. I was so blind then. Later on, many a time life has manifested how complete I’m. When I saw some differently abled kids in my bus, when one of my close friends was detected with cancer and a lot more tales aided me.
We all are stuffed with the reel social media life right before our eyes enslaved with the pseudo flawless body. No matter how perfect you are, people will leave random comments.
Why do you look so fat! You fatty have put on some weight! You are as skinny as skeleton. Hey, shorty! You have baldness around your head. Why don’t you consult a dermatologist for the acne? Go, gain some weight. Pimples ruin your face.” And these comments are always accompanied with LOL. I wonder are these things really something to Laugh Out Loud? Lol for what? For being insulted? For making someone feel inferior? Or was that for intensifying the complexity in one’s mind.
As long as you are happy with your body, don’t let the parasitic thoughts ruin your inner peace.
I’m not sure if you have noticed how I introduced myself as an average looking girl. Be honest, how many of you felt that statement is absolutely normal? I mean, average compared to whom? Are there any measurements for the same? We all are incredibly flawless and divine. We look best when we are ourselves and not when we contrast each other. As long as you are happy with your body, don’t let the parasitic thoughts ruin your inner peace. You deserve love.
But even more, you deserve self-love.
Much love,
Manasa