PRETTY

PRETTY is a short essay-type entry that discusses body image and self-esteem in a philosophical light. I talk about it from a rather personal perspective. I also talk about existence in general.

Being gorgeous or pretty is something some people were blessed with naturally. Why is it that some people are born more physically attractive then others? To me it just speaks to the notion that the universe is completely chaotic and lacks any order. 
Like the philosophers say, the universe is either full of meaning and order or completely devoid of such. There can be no in-between. 
Being pretty is bittersweet. It can make your life easier or it could make your life hell. It can make you a target for evil human predators. It can make you both hated and admired. 
Attractive people can make less attractive people feel down on themselves. It can make them feel like they just don't measure up. Young girls looking in the mirror calling themselves ugly, stupid, worthless and fat- even the really pretty ones. 
Why does society seem to think that being beautiful is the best thing you could possibly be? I feel like talents and intelligence almost take a back seat to physical appearance. Media plays a large role. 
I know how it feels to think you are ugly, worthless, stupid and fat, even though those feelings had no basis in reality. 
I was so young and new to this world and inexperienced when it came to dealing with my thoughts and emotions. It took years for me to develop a healthy self-image. 
I have come to conclusion that in order to find happiness you must take what you are given and do the best you can with it. Even if you are not the brightest crayon in the box and you are not easy on the eyes that doesn't mean you can't be happy. Nobody is perfect. There will always be some people smarter and prettier than you and some people who are less intelligent and homelier than you. If you are a benevolent person who strives to be productive or at least non-disruptive then you can find happiness- if given the right circumstances. 
The malevolent people in this world will continue to do evil on to others. They can be happy too but usually for the wrong reasons. 
No matter what you look like or what your IQ is there are things you can do well if you have a moral compass. You can be a loving family member, a beloved friend, a dedicated worker, a devoted parent and even a good leader. Just be carefree and enjoy the simple pleasures of life that we all can share. If you are religious (which I am not) then pray if it makes you feel happy. Immerse yourself in the pulse of life. We may all be individuals but we still are all part of this universe which is a never ending circle going on into infinity.

Author's Note

Did this make me sound like an egotistical person? Do you think this essay gives good advice or is helpful to people?

Reviews

[Pax]

Dear Ms. Linda,

I always think when I read an easy such as this, with a heart and soulful philosophical perspective, it’s amusing to read and response to. So here I am, reviewing to this piece as – sort of an essay.

You said:
“To me it just speaks to the notion that the universe is completely chaotic and lacks any order.”

I may not agree nor disagree, you know I believed everyone or everybody have his/her uniquely owned perspective on how he/she views on what’s around him/her. So I cannot completely say the world is a chaotic place, but somewhat I could say it is cruel in some way, and we to as humans are cruel as well.

Also I believed that everything in the world & universe is in balance, there is light and there is dark, good and evil… we can never change that nor mixed them, like oil and water… So I guess the world becomes imbalance when we humans or aliens interfere with it, like how we alter the course on how cultural ways runs or how we hunger for greed and becomes very destructive in our path and so on… now I am getting far of the topic. :D

This piece talks about beauty. I may sound cliché when I say this: beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I blame our perfectionist ways onto the media(TV & advertisement). I realized this when I get too consumed on what I watch, then I get used to the beauty that I always see on our tv screens. On that note I always held my grounds and always remember that the most amazing beauty is what you felt than what you see physically. Because when you love you don’t care anymore about the physically of your wife or husband or girl/boyfriend, you only care on what makes that person happy, if they’re happy, then you’re happy… that is mutual happiness… a choice between two souls as one.

Now let’s talk about the self-esteem. Yeah, I am very low at that level. I blame that to the insecurities we always felt from time to time. I or we can’t blame anyone on that, it’s only us – we are our own worst enemy. Just now this thought comes and says: “Insecurities breeds Envy”. Now that I think of it, it becomes true in all aspect of life we deal with. That is why I am trying to pin down each Insecurities, to understand it with all our heart, and provide better ways to simply ignore it.

I believe you are right, physical beauty in some people comes naturally to them, like an inborn trait they already have. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have any on us, I mean some parts of us is much beautiful, perhaps invisible in the naked eye or perhaps it is more felt than to be seen.

Being called worthless is the worst case and worst experienced someone can go through. Somehow it haunts our well-being, bringing a heavy burden/baggage to carry. For now I try to shove off that feeling, because I keep believing that no one is worthless, everything is worthy in every spectacles of our daily lives.

And also I see you talk about happiness, they say Happiness is a choice, and I can’t help but agree to it. It is easy to be happy about on simple things but it is hard to be content. Yes, we as humans are a naturally born seeker or a far as I believe we are… We seek knowledge, beauty, wisdom and many more… with that it is hard to content our hunger for many things. There is a quote that says: Enjoy the little things in life… for one day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things in your life. Also this: Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart. – Piglet.

I have to quote my favorite on this piece:

“Even if you are not the brightest crayon in the box and you are not easy on the eyes that doesn't mean you can't be happy. Nobody is perfect. There will always be some people smarter and prettier than you and some people who are less intelligent and homelier than you. If you are a benevolent person who strives to be productive or at least non-disruptive then you can find happiness- if given the right circumstances.”

I LOVE THOSE LINES… It simply says how you can be a better person not only to others but also to yourself. By that happiness is always at your doorstep. You give good advice and reasonable view on things of yours and many lives…

Great work
@Pax

[ButterfLinda]

I feel this essay was disjointed.