Tall,

Thin,

Wealthy,

Eye-catching.

Nowadays, society values and

feels magnetized to those who

who are so materialistically aesthetic.

Superficiality is a concept that is

said to be looked down upon

to receive less shame and judgment and

to seem more moral.

But in reality,

our principles have been nurtured through media and culture

to judge based on how beautiful we are,

what brands we are wearing,

how many friends we have,

and numerous other things that

don’t give a complete definition of

who we are inside.

 

Now,

I am not saying

that I am flawless and

not guilty of

using outer appearances

as a basis of judgment,

because I have caught myself

red-handed wishing to be someone who I am not:

someone prettier, richer, more popular.

It has become human nature to,

Because society as a whole places so much

Value on such frivolity.

 

I have spent countless hours

Pinpointing and magnifying my imperfections

And trying to obtain an unattainable version

Of myself who I believed society would treasure.

But,

It would be frightening to

Look into the mirror and not see myself;

Rather,

I’d see a creation of society,

An insecure girl who had succumbed to conformity.

 

When the sand of the hourglass almost

trickles entirely down to the bottom half,

only then will I realize

that I had been living life for others,

always trying to impress,

letting life pass me by.

Only then

Would it be too late.

Because unlike an hourglass,

We cannot flip life over

And restart the sand-fall cycle.  

 

What a miserable life that would be.

And that is why I am turning around

And not continuing down that road.

 

Instead of beating myself up

for who I am not,

I am going to hold back my fist,

And begin embracing who I am.

 

I know that I am not

the prettiest, the richest, or the most popular,

But I am resigning myself from this competition against society.

Because anyone can sculpt their exterior

If they put enough time and money into it.

But not everyone can fix who they are on the interior,

Especially since so many people are focused

on molding on their appearances.

 

How much good will a perfect face be when one is depressed

And needs someone to cry to and listen?

If so much time is allocated to appearing flawless for others,

These people’s help may not help.

 

I am that person who people

Run to and vent their troubles to.

I feel proud that people feel safe and comfortable

Pouring out their emotions to me,

Knowing that I will not judge;

Rather,

I look at the situation from their perspective,

Empathize with and give support to them,

hoping that the candle I have given them

Provides enough warmth and light against the

Cold and darkness.

Whether that light be as dim as a tiny flame in the universe,

Or as bright as the sun,

I want them to shine like the star they are.

 

I am the ear that listens,

The arms that caress,

The heart that warms,

the soul that has faith.

Most of all,

I choose to do all of this

Because I love and care about people.

It shatters my soul to see someone upset,

Someone starving, someone homeless,

Someone in poverty,

Because no one deserves to live through hell on Earth.

 

Feeling lonely and hopeless is scary and demeaning,

Especially when some people judge based on

What they physically see,

Disregarding and misjudging the storm that is brewing psychologically.

Life is full of opportunity,

But in these dark moments,

All we see emotionally and sometimes even physically

Is just black, blue, and red,

And we let them

overshadow the brightness in life.

And life doesn’t feel worth living anymore.

 

I am that paintbrush that

Brings vitality and color back into the battered portraits,

The person who soothes the pain

And who helps them

To deal with it,

To learn and grow from it,

To become stronger,

To not give up on life.

 

I know that I am not

the prettiest, the richest, or the most popular,

But I have resigned myself from this competition against society.

Because anyone can sculpt their exterior

If they put enough time and money into it.

But not everyone can fix who they are on the interior,

Especially since so many people are focused

on molding on their appearances.

And that is why I have allotted all my goals

And designed my future

Focusing on feeding the hungry,

Clothing the cold,

Sheltering the homeless,

Healing the bruised,

And above all,

Following my beliefs and values,

obstructing the superficial from

Plaguing my thoughts and tearing down the

Wall that I have built to protect myself against it.