I am so tired. Actually, exhausted. I am drained from this society's overwhelming obsession with picking people apart. We are all our own worst critics, yes; yet, where have we been fed these negative outlooks on people in general? Everywhere we turn, there is a constant reminder that we are all in some type of competition to be the next version of perfect. Everyone keeps repeating, “perfect doesn’t exist,” so when will we stop believing that it does? The truth is, the closest thing you will ever find to "perfect" is the moment you learn that accepting yourself is ten times more important then anyone else accepting you.
Bathing-suit ads feature women who have been photo shopped, and movies show girls waking up in the morning with each eyelash aligned. We have magazines degrading talented artists for gaining two pounds after having twins, and pictures of wrinkles on women who look 35 on their 60th birthdays. If a movie star loses too much weight she has an eating disorder, and if she gains a few pounds she is unhealthy. We assume that men who gain muscle are on steroids, and men with no muscle are wimps. We see the world as if it needs to be perfect, and every person who doesn’t fit the ideal is in need of change. It is not only depressing to watch, but also depressing to feel, and it affects everyone.
When we work out it should be for ourselves to feel healthy, and when we wear makeup it should be to leave the house feeling beautiful. When we go on a diet it should be because we want to feel better in our own skin, and when we buy clothes it should be something we feel comfortable in. When did our body-shapes and skin tones become the definition of who we are? When did doing our makeup go from an art we enjoyed to making us laughing stocks on social media? When did getting your hair done mean needing approval from your peers? AND WHEN DID MY MIRROR TURN FROM MY OWN REFLECTION TO THE BIGGEST BULLY OF ALL.
Not only do young teens experience bullies in high school who pick apart their outfits and new haircuts, but now we feel judgement from everyone everywhere, at all ages. At your new job you feel as if your appearance is one of the most important credentials. You are judged for being overweight at the gym even though – isn’t that what the gym is for? You not only feel judged constantly but you find yourself questioning why you are judging others too. Everything you hate about society, is something you now find yourself contributing to. It is a scary epidemic that can destroy someone, destroy you. It is hard to know that we are in a competition that no one will ever win. We will all always find ways to critique ourselves, and it is because of the way others critique us and the way we critique others. We are becoming brainwashed into thinking we will never be good enough, even though we already are.
Bullies used to stop when you got home from school. You used to be able to put your hair up and take your makeup off and feel beautiful. At one point you were able to go into the bathroom without stepping on the scale. Once upon a time you looked into the mirror and loved what you saw. You weren’t looking at what was wrong with you, you were smiling at everything that was right. The truth is you are beautiful. You may have a million flaws, but those flaws sure look great on you. In today's world, you are damned if you do and you are damned if you don't. So you might as well do whatever you want. Fight back; don’t let your mirror turn into what society wants it to.
