I have been insecure all my life. From my height to my weight, to my eyes, to my hair, to even how my hands look. It's taken a very long time to break through all my insecurities, and gain the level of confidence I now have. In the past few years, I've been able to successfully say that I do love how I look most of the time. I'm okay with myself and learning to love all of my features. But there is one thing about me that I can't seem to shake; my smile.

I've always disliked my smile. My lips are small, my teeth are crooked and bent. (That's a fun story! I was about 6 years old, reaching for a cookie of course, when my dad went to pop my hand and missed. Hit me smack dab in the face! Knocked out my loose tooth, leaving that front tooth to grow in all crooked. Thanks, dad! ) But anyways, I cover my face in pictures all the time, if I'm hanging with friends, I hold something in front of my mouth. All my friends get on to me about it. But I don't like my smile.

Something always hit me as strange, though.

You see, I'm a very happy person, I find joy in the simplest of things. Like, the way the sunrise or sunset is colored, seeing a butterfly, or some pretty flowers. Even a house painted a pretty pastel yellow brings a smile to my face. So I'm always smiling about something. And people will often tell me I have a wonderful smile. And of course, I always think to myself, "Well, why? I've not got the best smile round. Why do people point it out?" It drives me crazy! People always pointing out one of the few things I despise about myself, it's just not fun to me. But I started thinking about why. Why do people always tell me that I've got a contagious smile? I'm pretty sure that I have been able to figure out the reason, now.

People aren't judging the smile based on if it is aesthetically pleasing, but on the fact, it is a genuine smile, an expression of my happiness!

People notice when you have a joy bubbling up inside you, and they don't care if you've got a crooked smile. People felt and saw the joy written across my face, not the smile that I like to hide. Which can be a hard thing to remember. Because it's not just the case of the smile, the people that you need in your life will be drawn to you, not what you look like. So stop trying to hide what you think would be your flaws, your imperfections, because that's what makes you, well you! I've heard far too many stories about girls concealing parts of themselves because they think others judge them for it. Y'all, if someone is judging you for traits and features about yourself, maybe they shouldn't be so close to you, ya know?

But here, listen. We have to stop hiding. Too many people are covering their faces when they smile or letting themselves not laugh because someone once told them it makes their eyes squinty. Why are there people that cover up their freckles with makeup because they think it's unappealing? Or even not wearing their glasses because they're told they look nerdy? I think it's time that all of us stop hiding our insecurities, and start letting ourselves be true.

So smile, with your teeth showing. Laugh from the bottom of your heart. Forget your flaws.

-Much Love!