from http://www.sixbillionsecrets.com/view/Secrets/108992?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter , 2/7/2010
"Here's your defense now:
1. You're beautiful no matter how repulsing you look, because beauty is something that appearance can never define. It comes from the courage and resilience you have when you thought you couldn't be weaker; that spark that, no matter how good or evil, is individually yours; it comes from all your faults, quirks, mistakes, pain, joy, laughter, and secrets you harbor inside, this one included; it comes from your strength to tell someone, many people eve, your secret; and it comes from simply being a living human being, because life, no matter where you find it, is so stunningly beautiful words cannot describe. That light of life also makes you physically beautiful. What is considered pretty, hot, or cute was created by people. Flawed, misunderstanding people. Beauty is something that exists in everything, even though it may not be found by every person, and two people may not find the same beauty in one thing, one person. There is beauty in your appearance, even if society, a flawed institution, can't see it. Even your peers don't see it. Even, if not especially, you don't see it. There is somebody out there in world - many people, in fact - that will see you and find something beautiful. What those people will or are finding are really there, not simply lies to make you feel better. If you work on it, and it will be a painfully challenging job (trust me, I've been in that position), you can even learn to see it too, regardless of what those around you claim. I was able to, and no matter how buried and underground it is, you have it in you, too.
2. You have a right to be here: on this Earth, in your country, in your state, in your county, in your town, on your street, and in your house. Nothing can change that, no matter how horrifying the mistake or devastating the flaw. It was given to you the second you screamed your first breath. From that moment, the coding within your DNA and the storms of the air around you created a person so beautiful that nothing could begin to describe it, and as individual as the snowflakes that would fall, somewhere in the world, during your first year. Everything ahead of you, from everyday choices to loss and grief, would continue to write out your own personal identity. You become your own person, slowly and sometimes unsure.
3. Nobody else in this universe, dead or alive, is exactly like you. Nobody else sees the world as you do, experiences things like you, thinks just like you, talks exactly like you, or does what you do. Nobody, even, makes their mistakes just like you, destructs yourself and others like, hurts like you, and nobody cries exactly the same way you do. Most importantly, nobody loves exactly like you, cares just like you, helps like you, perseveres like you, creates like you, and most importantly, nobody can contribute to the world just like you do. This very sense of individuality doesn't just give you a right to be here; it gives you a purpose, meaning and reason for being here.
4. “You gotta remember in the entire history of the universe ... you’re the only ‘you’ that has ever existed and ever will exist,” Morrison said. “... there’s nobody in existence who is you, and no one can ever see the world the way you see it and can tell the rest of us how it looks. And it might be so different and so beautiful that it changes everything.” - Grant Morrison, Comic Con 2008
5. You are loved, and you are inherently lovable and capable of loving other people. Despite this evolutionary ability, believing you are lovable or worth loving can be hard, and loving yourself near impossible. You find flaws in yourself that are both noticeable and not, and you bear yourself over the smallest of mistakes. Many people, myself included at one time, even come to the conclusion that world would be much better off without us, or that we are simply an annoying burden that brings others down. We ignore our right to be alive, and forget our individuality, our purpose and meaning. We shower and bathe in self-self hate. Sometimes, in the midst of this, we are given people that are hard to love. They come to us with addictions, raging illnesses of the brain, characteristics that irritate us, and chronic or frequent illness. Things that we may very well struggle with ourselves. Though it can be very hard and painful, we find a way to love and care for these people, that often appear in our own family. We find good in them, and that gets us through. Yet, we can rarely do the same for ourselves. The love we have in us is strong, as it must be to survive such issues. So, it is not an issue of strength, weakness, courage or innate ability. All of us have all of that. It is an issue of what is drilled into our brains from first breath. That some mistakes are only made by weak, bad, and defective people. The comments and opinions of people who can't see the type of beauty in you (see #1). False expectations of you should be able to do that or that's no big deal that ignores our own unique wiring and build. Messages that say some humans are less than, no matter if you fit that ground or not. Symptoms that people mistake for laziness or cruelty. Stereotypes we must fill, good or bad. And the idea that any human deserves death. These forces are all creations of humans just as flawed and messed up as you, and the venom they give you holds no water in logic. Knowing that won't make it hurt any less; but it needs to be known that internally, under all that rubble, there is something in you that is lovable, from the basic beauty of being alive to the parts of you that shine under the dark. You may not believe it, and, for now, that is OK. Just know that I believe it's there, and I can see it through the screen. I love you, no matter what.
With Love,
Erika
PS: Nobody does it for me, either."
Never ever read a response so long and thoughtful :) Kudos to you.
ok so FORMAL :D
Best night, ever.
And only the night, because my GOD the day was stressful enough!
Once my dress was on, make up done, and waiting for the limo, I felt a sense of freedom.
This was my night. This was a night of fun. This was our night, the year 12 night.
Seeing Matt, Franki in their formal clothes was just stunning. Walking up the driveway to Lillian's house in anticipation. Seeing Lilz' Fong looking stunning.
The limo comes, and the driver, James, he's a good bloke. Friendly and funny. We all arrived, and he was going to drive up to Montefiore Hill before I realized (stupidly) I left my formal ticket in my bag. Luckily, 'cos he's great and all, I was able to pick it up and I learnt the pain of running in high heels. :D
He drives us up the hill and (seeing as we're all underage...) pours us all champagne glasses of lemonade :D and we stood and took a few pictures, grinning and bearing the cold
Finally, we arrive at the Convention Center; stepping out of the car, our photos were taken and we stood there in the cold for a while. Mr G came down to call us up, and we walked down the red carpet to the foyer. It was a LOT warmer. :) *feels all good*
The minutes ticked by and still there was no sign of others (nicole and bee? where are you!??!) but more people were arriving. Kels looked stunning in purple with matching streaks. Blythe, amazing in a dress!? (an omg wait *looks again* wait *looks again* wow moment* Yvonne, absolutely stunning. Honestly, everyone looked ueber beautiful. :D And evidently people thought I was too :) Looking around for people, seeing Laurence and Sabrina looking nice. And another rush of people, probably all from Emily's bus. :D Rushed around for a group photo did not work well. We got the photo done, the organization was terrible. Saw some more guys looking good; Trungle, Dat, Ben, Trung's date. Kevin in a white suit :) :D By this time we were running well behind time, but what was the matter? :) It was all good.
Walking inside, eyes adjusting to blue light. And I MEAN blue light:
Seriously; how blue is that :D Pretttttttttttttttttttty :)
Dinner was interesting. Thought there would be three pieces of chicken and it turned out to be two with a MUSHY THINGO in between and I was like WHAT?! Sitting at a table with .. Lillian, Grace+friend, Sarah, Damian, Anna, Harleen + date/bf? (IDK!), Laurence, Sabrina and Bront. Good people :D
Waiting to get photos taken.. I have never been so bored and happy at the same time :)
Taking photos, Bront was meant to have his arm around me and that felt AWKWARD! hahhahss :)
Had dessert, some weird tart thingy they decided to make INCREDIBLY hard to eat. Like, seriously, a tart, with fork and spoon, with icecream on top, and a strawberry cut down the middle but still joined at the top. JUST DO IT PROPERLY PEOPLES! :P
Actually most of the night was phototaking. Awards, I hardly remember, except NICOLE!!!!!!!! getting the 'Most Likely to Rule the World' which was quite fitting ;)
I guess there really isn't much to say about formal now. It was just a good night. Everyone looked stunning in their dresses, suits, all dressed up, prettied up, <333333333
Afterparty.. what can I say. My sister was too sleepy to take me so I dropped home, grabbed some clothes, and went to Lillian's to change. Got to AP. and woooooh atomsphere! Firstly, walking past a group of people trying to scull beers.. not exactly cool. Got inside and the music was thudding away. Found a group of people, said 'hellos' and got into it with Nicole. About the same for the rest of the night. Slowly turned into a massive... well it was a room too small. With too many heated bodies. Sweaty, smelly, adrenaline rushing atmosphere. PDA. SO GOOD SO IN TO IT. . . well it's my first time. and it was awesome. screw yous. hheheehehehe.
Ended up dancing with MATTHOLOLOMEW the most night. GOOD FUN. I was the man *puts vest on, puts tie on* and *touches his boob* i mean *her boob*
Good fun HAHHAS. dancing real close feel the music babayy. ignoring what everyone else was seeing. what they were thinking. what they were saying. i could see the looks and the lips moving but i did not care for a thing that night. bought some massively overpriced red bull and drank and had the energy to MOVE IT.
so SCREW yous commenting on how I dance and with WHO because I had an AWESOME time and if i could i'd do it again. Except maybe You would dance with me. You being all of you. hahhas. unlikely. Or I wish You would be here so I could dance with you. ;) hehehehes. beast. :P
0 thoughts:
Post a Comment