UNSEEN SCARS
I was walking down the road
When I heard someone
Make a comment about my appearance
They say you are short
They say you are dark
They say you are skinny
Its like they are measuring me against some invisible ruler
That defines what’s beautiful and perfect
It hurt my feelings
And made me wonder if I fit into that definition
Of what beaty and perfect is
And they call it being a ten
But I realized am not alone
many struggles with hurtful comments
constantly overwhelmed with images
that tells us how we should look like
like there is standard
And if we don’t
We are somehow less
But then I thought, is it fair?
Judging ourselves against those girls in magazines?
With their light skin, curvy figures, flat tummies
Don’t get me wrong they look stunning yes
But who is to say that that’s only standard of beauty
Aren’t we all made in gods image as the say?
Then who said it’s about being size zero
Or having a certain shape or color?
And who came up with this standard of beauty
Anyway?
Is it media? Is society?
Or it’s just something that has been passed down?
Whatever it is, it’s hurting many girls and women
Lowering their self esteem
Making them feel that they are not enough
And then I thought about all the products out there
That promise to fix us
Whitening creams, makeup, artificial hair
It’s like we are being told to change ourselves
To fit into someone’s idea of beauty
And it’s not just about products
Some women are turning to surgery
Trying to achieve that face card
Trying to achieve that body type
But at what cost?
I have heard many women
Who have had complications
Who have suffered pain and damage
All to fit an unrealistic standard
And it’s not just physical
Its emotional too
It’s hard to escape that feeling that
We are not enough
That we need to change
To be loved or accepted
We are constantly being told were not quite right
And that’s a hard message to comprehend
But why getting so comfortable
Pointing out flaws
Forgetting the soul inside that is fragile we are so quick to judge, to criticize and tear down
But what about the person receiving at the end?
Don’t they deserve kindness, compassion and understanding?
Then started thinking how words can affect us
Speak with care
Ask before you judge
For every comment weight the cost
Pause before we speak
Guard the hearts we are quick to critique
For words remain choose them the wisely
They can break or sustain
E