Being satisfied with yourself

When I was growing up, I felt like I had ugly teeth and a big booty. Oh and for years, I was always taller than the guys in my class. I felt different. Where I felt like these were "terrible curses", others tried to assure me that they were blessings in disguise or "stages" that I would outgrow in time. I have been told that beauty is only skin-deep or beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

Have you noticed the Dove commercials? I You Tubed some of them and I love the one that plays the song, "True Colors" while talking about real beauty. The one about Evolution and says "perception of beauty is distorted" is a transformation of basically the "ugly duckling" into the "beautiful swan".

We're told it is OK to be who we are and that everyone is different in a special way. They also tell us that a lot of the magazines and TV ads are air-brushed or touched up and no one is perfect.

Most of us struggle to feel confident in who we are and feel less than adequate. I personally have tried for years to make the best of the package God gave me but that doesn't always help your self-confidence. That comes naturally when you become comfortable in your own skin. I am not perfect, and neither is anyone else. However, the Bible says that I am "fearfully and wonderfully made". Psalm 139 says I am created in a way that perfectly suits me for the unique purposes that God has put me on this Earth for.

In learning to accept myself, I have learned to apply my make-up in a manner that makes me feel and look my best. I change my hair styles often to suit what I feel the most comfortable with. I try to wear clothes that I feel "fit" me and the styles that suit my lifestyle. I do on occasion, make mistakes but have learned what I do afterwards is what matters. The most important part of getting my life in the "right place" is making it all right with God. He alone can help you understand your purpose and show you how to be the best you. Philippians 4:13 says, "Christ gives me the strength to face anything".

This is the lyrics to the song "More Beautiful You" by Johnny Diaz. It puts a lot into perspective.

"Little girl fourteen flipping through a magazine

Says she wants to look that way

But her hair isn't straight her body isn't fake

And she's always felt overweight

Well little girl fourteen I wish that you could see

That beauty is within your heart

And you were made with such care your skin your body and your hair

Are perfect just the way they are

There could never be a more beautiful you

Don't buy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through

You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do

So there could never be a more beautiful you

Well little girl twenty-one you never thought that this would come

You starve yourself to play the part

So turn around you're not too far

To back away be who you are

To change your path go another way

It's not too late you can be saved

If you feel depressed with past regrets

The shameful nights hope to forget

Can disappear they can all be washed away

By the one who's strong can right your wrongs

Can rid your fears dry all your tears

And change the way you look at this big world

He will take your dark distorted view

And with His light He will show you truth

And again you'll see through the eyes of a little girl"

Don't rush growing up to soon and don't fall into some things that you feel uncomfortable about. Listen to your little voice inside that tells you what needs to be done. Most of the time you will find it is right.

In the meantime, I plan on making the best of what God gave me and thanking God for making me "me". And as my mother says, "thank goodness there is only one Marissa". Now what is that suppose to mean???