Hello.

What does it mean to be beautiful? What is beautiful? These are questions that no one seems to ask when looking in the mirror. These questions are skipped, but they are important.

Beauty. We all want to be beautiful. Each morning, I look in the mirror and the question haunts me- Why can't I be beautiful? I stare at my large nose, my "ugly" freckles, my frizzy hair. I wonder why I can't be skinnier.

We look at others with jealousy. Why can't I have her hair? Why can't I have her nose? Why can't I, why can't I? Everyone is beautiful... everyone except you.

Have you ever stopped to think that maybe they're wishing they were you too? That others are just like you? Because guess what? They are just like you. They do want to be you. They want to be your friend. They want to be your size. They wish they were you!

Do you not believe me? You don't believe in your own beauty? There is proof. Go to the mirror. Look into it, right at you. What makes you beautiful? What do you like best about yourself? It doesn't have to be on the outside. Is it your fun sense of humor? Your cute freckles? Your long eyelashes? How you never fail to see the good in others?

But what about the stuff that isn't so great about me? Well, someone out there on this planet wants what you think of as a mistake. Do you think you are too short? I wish I was shorter. I'm so tall, I can't dance with any boys at school dances. I'm taller than them.

Do not worry about the others. You are beautiful. Don't let anyone take that away from you. Do what makes you happy and love your mistakes. Love yourself.

You are beautiful.

Maria