second_banana | (no subject)

Dear World,

It's been a while since you and I talked. I just thought you needed a reminder. I am beautiful. I fully understand that I do not look anything like the women on TV or in magazines. I am aware that my presence in a room does not bring people to their knees. But. I am beautiful. I know who I am and I rejoice in that fact. That person is dear to me. When I look in the mirror I refuse to believe that what I should be seeing is another magazine cover. I see me, and I am more comfortable with that image than the one you have been showing me.

And while we're on this subject, it seems that you have been telling my friends, my flist, and all sorts of people that they should be looking like something else. I would appreciate it if you would stop. These people are beautiful too. Even though they might not rejoice in their being, which some of them do, I rejoice in them. These people are special to me. They are beautiful in my eyes and the eyes of the people that love us should be more important than the smoky condemning eyes of a woman or man on the movie screen.

So while you are telling these people that they are not beautiful, please remember that not all of us agree. Look at them through my eyes, through the eyes of people who love them. Let me tell them that they are loved because of who they are, not of what they should become in your eyes.

Respectfully yours,
Susan