I am not beautiful.

I'm not writing this so that a friend will message me with compliments, leave a comment on one of my Instagram photos telling me that I am "so pretty," or further assure me that I am beautiful.

I don't need reassurance.

I don't want compliments.

Society has high standards for both men and women when it comes to outward beauty – standards that few live up to.

We're too skinny, or we're too fat.

Too tall, too small.

Our nose is too big, our teeth aren't straight enough, our body isn't curvy or built enough, and so forth and so forth.

Yes, we are all "beautiful" in the eyes of God and/or those who love us for who we are; however, as harsh as this may sound, some are just more visually attractive than others, and I will not deny that many people are much more "blessed" in, what you could say, the "looks department." Thus, why are we focusing on and losing sleep over irrelevant and unobtainable goals when we should instead be focusing on our unique, higher purpose?

I'm not beautiful, and I'm perfectly fine with it because my sole purpose of existence is not to look a certain way.

Nor is my purpose to be visually appealing to the liking of others.

My looks don't define who I am, and no one should ever be defined by their outward appearance because appearance is just that: an outward attribute.

Looks say nothing about the character, soul, intelligence, or purpose of a person.

I may not be stunning, but I am a multitude of other things that are far more important.

I am caring.

I am capable of great things.

I have a wonderful future ahead if I continue to pursue worthwhile goals.

And so is and does each and every one of us. We have purposes so much greater than looking a certain way to please the eyes of others.

So no, some of us are not beautiful, and that's fine by me because we are so much more.