The Lies We Live

beauty

"i'm the drug in your veins,
just fight through the pain."

As a girl, it was always ingrained in my mind that it was infinitely important to be pretty. Of course, it was never said aloud, but perhaps society instils in us a mindset we are never actually taught but raised in.

And yes, I know that some girls wear makeup for themselves, and provocative clothing because they are entitled to. But don't tell me that the other reasons are non-existent. To attract men, and get attention. The cosmetics industry thrives off of our insecurities.

I suppose you have the right to wear what you like, but then I have the right to say that you attract what you put out. I trust that you are smart enough to understand the primitive sides of men. It is not that we should live in fear of the evil within others, but that we should be wary of it.

Being ugly, in a way soon became a fear of mine. It is humorous to think that one could be afraid of something so insignificant but look at the society around you. We do not go hungry and are not deprived of any necessities. We live in sheltered environments where no harm can reach us. A material world creates material fears within its inhabitants.

Almost as if you are somehow less human when you aren't beautiful. But so what? Even if you are hideous, does that limit you from becoming anything which you desire? Can you not paint with scarred hands, or use the sharp mind that sits within your battered head?

And you may argue that modelling will no longer be an option. Or that the job world favours the good looking as the face of an industry. But what is modelling really? To make a profit off your physique that will one day disappear. I know we aspire to reach the same figures, but to what extent?

I once told this girl at poetry club about how I wanted to lose weight, and that she told me that "skinny girls are not fun to hug."

I like your soft edges, the way the warmth of your skin seeps into me. You are so human, that I am suddenly less ashamed to be human myself. I can touch you, and hold you; hell I can mould myself into you if only to not feel alone anymore.

And you don't need looks to amaze others. I understand first impressions revolve around the way we present ourselves, but your charm should know no such boundaries. To be respected is much better than to be liked. Simply put, your beauty gives you favour, but your work gives you honour.

Since when did our role models become beautiful instead of honourable. The most important thing that we can instil within ourselves is not good looks or style, but qualities that people can derive from. Our beauty does not better the world, it does not feed the hungry, or cure the sick. We must stop putting useless people on pedestals of admiration.

The truth is, we can all get surgery, and wear makeup. We can wear nice clothes and receive compliments that boost our confidence, and make us feel good about ourselves. But that is a selfish thing to want. We benefit no one but ourselves. My religion has taught me to be modest in the clothes I wear, there is no need to flaunt what you do or do not have. Because we face another problem, that eats away at our souls.

We become envious with our gazes. Hungry for all that we don't have. And we should not despair, or become angered by the bounty of others because I believe that we should be focused on increasing our own.

I want the society to admire the game changers, I'm talking Malala, Obama, Trudeau. These people did not impress others with beauty, they made an impression with their words. Their actions. Their beliefs. Perhaps our faces will deteriorate, but the good we advocate for in this world will never cease to be.

It is a simple message that has become a cliché we now choose to overlook. I know Instagram models get famous, and they get rich. But are they respected by everyone, or does their cleavage simply attract the shallow minded. Do they leave an impact on you, make you think.

We must understand, that in order to lead fulfilling lives, we can not continue to chase things on shallow whims. The material world holds facades, that glimmer in the sunlight, and we must teach ourselves not to be led astray by them.

The happiness we find on the outside is temporary, but the happiness we make within ourselves is far more enduring.