In a society filled with ideas such as "beauty standards" and "social expectations", we have grown so accustomed to recognizing our "flaws" and attempting to change them. We don't take the time to appreciate our differences or our individualistic personalities. We are so quick to judge ourselves, way more than others even judge us.

We are so prone to not accepting who we are that we lose sight of our true selves.

Our true colors don't shine through like they used to because there's no opaque vulnerability. We cover up what we think are our blemishes are out of fear that someone else would do it before we get a chance to. We label our bad nights as the end all be all because we are afraid we have inflicted irreversible damage on those around us. We forget that true friends don't judge the few bad apples of nights, but that they live through them with us without notions of hate or disgust.

We forget that when we sign up to be someone's friend, we accept the whole character of who they are and not just the parts that are appealing.

The moment we put a judgment on someone we love, there is automatically a distance because how can you love someone if you don't love them wholeheartedly? A vulnerability with others is important; however, vulnerability with oneself is the aim to joy in life. When you accept your likes, dislikes, and what life has shaped you to be, you enter a new phase of life that is what is strived for by many but achieved by few.

In a society where media is such a strong influence, we lose sight of what really matters. We begin to focus on the size of our waist and what brands our clothes are. We start to prioritize these shallow objectives and begin to neglect the personality of those we come into contact with. We already have an idea of who a person is before we even open our mouths because appearance plays such a large role in what makes a person valuable. We judge those we deem as lesser than us or those that we feel intimidated by. Instead of living in a society where we feel connected to each other we distance each other out of fear.

These recent terrorist attacks have played a huge part in why our society is so distant. We put up walls to protect ourselves. What we don’t realize is that when we do that, we really are closing ourselves off from the possibility of meeting someone really great and getting to know them. If we, ourselves, are different, we no longer feel secure in ourselves when compared to others. Since I come from a Hispanic background, I have often been called derogatory names and picked on, even though my ethnicity is Caucasian. People find a reason to ostracize you and they abuse that. There is never a good reason for anyone to make you feel lesser. You must not listen to them and let them control your thoughts and feelings. You are the only person that understands your every thought and feeling. Don't let others dictate that.

The power you give to people is what they have over you.