I’m going to say it, and it may be hard for some to hear. We need to start talking about our insecurities. Everybody has something that makes him or her feel self-conscious, and when we start talking about whatever that insecurity may be, I find that it is suddenly easier to accept. Ignoring our insecurities won’t make them go away. By confronting them, we grow more confident, allowing us to feel less self-conscious.

There are some things in life that are totally out of our control. One of them is our genetics.

Unfortunately, my dad has a cleft chin, so that meant that I, too, ended up with one, as did my

sister and brother. For years it bothered me, and I was upset that I didn’t have the choice of having a cleft chin or a normal chin. I don’t remember a specific incident from when I was young where someone commented on it, but nevertheless, it was always on my mind.

The first time I was ever introduced to plastic surgery, I was watching Ugly Betty, and I remember thinking, Hey, that could solve my chin problem (RIP, "Ugly Betty". That show still holds a special place in my heart). I was only in 5^th grade! I talked the idea over with my friends on the playground the next day, and we decided that I might be a little young for plastic surgery, and I should wait until I was more grown up, about 16. Because 16 is a very grown up age to a 5^th grader.

I introduced the idea to my mom first, and then to my dad. Their reactions were strikingly similar. They chuckled, looked confused, told me that I, “would be handsome no matter what,” and then (hopefully) thought about what kind of shows their son was watching in his free time. So, I accepted the fact that I was stuck with it.

Over time, I grew to accept my chin, mostly through self-deprecating jokes, which I admittedly love. I realized that nobody seemed to mind it as much as I did, and if anyone ever made a comment, nine times out of ten, it was a joking, loving gesture made by a friend, which is cool with me (if we’re on that level).

Even though I accept my chin as it is, there are still days when I feel it is looking extra cleft, days where I wish it was less pronounced, days where I wonder if I’m possibly related to fictional character Peter Griffin, or days where I wonder which Instagram filter best conceals my dimple.

But then I stop and realize that it’s one mere feature on a face full of other characteristics, and I think about some of the great things that butt-chinned people have done like Sandra Bullock who has been nominated for Academy Awards and Golden Globes, Adele who was nominated for 13 Grammys and won 10 of them, MTV Movie Award nominee, Ashton Kutcher, Heidi Klum who has been featured on the cover of Vogue in four different countries and host of (the best show on television),

Project Runway, reality television judge and producer, Simon Cowell, Dr. Phil, Britney Spears, and a bunch of other talented people. Ben Affleck's chin even played a cameo role in the movie Gone Girl! No, their chins were not what led them to their success, but probably, the great skill of perseverance that they acquired through their butt chins is what did.

So, thank you chin dimple, for teaching me to accept my insecurity and turn it into a strength. What a great life skill to have acquired.

Accept the fact that certain things, like butt chins are here to stay, and life will become so much more enjoyable!