therapeutic thursdays: what is beauty?

People find beauty all over the place. And many mistake beauty for 'perfection', that something needs to be (what our society thinks) is perfect in order to have any beauty whatsoever. Back in first year, I had a Multimedia class where we had to take scans from magazines and create something new out of it. As I was flipping through my magazines (issues of Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue, Seventeen) I realized that so many images of "beauty" are presented that can really skew us. And this is what I came up with:

Kind of terrifying, isn't it? And the lady on the left completely reminds me of Heidi Montag -- the girl who turned into a plastic blow-up doll after getting ten surgery procedures done in one day.

There's nothing wrong with being skinny or being sexy, but I think society promotes it to a point where we only think of our shortcomings -- what's "wrong" with us, and, how can we solve it? Usually it involves spending our money on some promise that we can be beautiful in someone's eyes.

But first, we need to work on being beautiful in our own eyes. Not be self-absorbed, but realize that we are beautiful.

When I was a child, I got a third-degree burn on my thigh that I still have to this day. I've always been so self-conscious of it, covering myself up on the beach because people would look at it otherwise.

Until I realized -- imperfections don't have to be classified as 'ugly.' Since meeting The Boy, I've finally worn an actual bikini bottom instead of shorts or a skirt on top, my scar still on display. But for once, I don't mind.

And looking outside ourselves, beauty can really be found everywhere. Looking at a garden of flowers, watching a sunset, seeing two friends bearhugging each other because they haven't seen each other in so long. Waking up in the morning and seeing the person you love right next to you. Seeing someone smile.

We all have different definitions of beauty. 

What is yours? 

Which column matters more to you?

This scene from Love Actually is a classic.

To be loved by someone -- just the way you are.

*sigh*

{Let's just ignore that whole part where he's in love with a married woman, mmkay?}

Now, I don't want to be cliche and say:

Because, of course, most people are attracted to

someone physically before the emotional aspect sets in.

What I'm trying to say is: don't let society define what beauty is for you,

or let it determine if you're beautiful or not.

Find it for yourself :)

Today, Andhari talks about it being "Lingerie Day" in the twitter-verse ... another way of exploiting boobs and butts. Why not cover yourself in some pink fabric for Project Barbie instead? And of course, that doesn't mean we have to become Barbie, because her dimensions are psychotic. It's just a way to dress up and unleash your beauty.

But yes. I know this is a bit of a deeper topic, but questions of what beauty really is seems to pop up almost daily. And Heidi's recent surgery scared the crap outta me (if you haven't seen the pictures yet ... don't, hehe). Just something to think about, and hopefully something that will relax you -- you don't have to be what everyone wants you to be. Be your own beauty, be yourself. :)

And join my giveaway? (oh, shameless plugs.)

Hope you'll all have a great start to your weekend!

P.S. If you want a more lighthearted Thursday after reading this, definitely check out LivitLuvit's TMI Thursdays (though some of them are pretty serious, too)!