Are You Beauty?

My face looks terrible. Acne dotted everywhere, the skin looks dark red after regular sunburns, and to top it off, parts of it are flaking! Too bad my skin have to endure this until after April, as my training will still continue under the sun 'til then.

Despite the condition of the skin of my face, I still think I don't look uglier than normal. What would you think under the situation? Scream like crazy everytime you look at yourself in the mirror? Groan at the touch of your zits? Come on, pal - feeling bad about yourself does no good to you. If anything, it'll only make you worse - several studies have already proven it. The more you worry, the worse it goes, you worry even more... It's a negative cycle that'll soon leave you in despair if you don't pull through.

A couple of weeks ago, I read a quote from Hannah Tan, Malaysia's popular beauty icon, which says, "Both beauty and health exists naturally in tandem. Neither can be taken for granted." She also sees beauty as "an inner strength and charismatic persona, rather than what people see on the outside".

Of course, you can argue that she's only saying that for show, but that's beyond the point here. She speaks the truth, willingly or not - true beauty is as it does. If you accept that you are beautiful, then you are, no matter what others think of you. (Don't overdo it to the point of vanity, though.)

Then, there's a story about Beauty and Ugly: that they both went for a bath together, and Ugly delibrately left early, wearing Beauty's clothes, leaving her with no choice but to take Ugly's. Beauty does exist within some of those who wear Ugly's dress; sometimes the Beautiful dress is used as a facade by Ugly. We can't judge truly which is which, but we can choose to wear whose dress, and to be with whom truly within.

There are many beautiful things in the world. YOU can choose to be one with them. Still think you're not Beauty? Think again.