What to do when you’re not happy with your own reflection?

Our elder reminds us that true beauty comes from within.

Dear EWC:

Hello. I’m not sure how to really word this so this may be all over the place. Sorry.
For a while now, I’ve been struggling with my appearance and way of acting. I can’t help but look in the mirror and, without realizing, see everything wrong with me. From my weight to everything’s about myself, I feel so hideous. I hate my appearance and even though I try to feel better about myself, I end up feeling even worse. I can’t get it to stop and I’m sick of feeling like this. This is why I am reaching out.
Thank you for reading this.

Grandpa-Bill replies:

I am so sorry you are feeling this way. First, you should know that everyone (even movie stars who you think are so beautiful) feel there is something wrong with their looks. If you’ve noticed, the people you see on TV aren’t as beautiful working from home. Since they don’t have their makeup artist and hairdresser to get them ready to appear as they do on the set, you are seeing them as they really are. They also can afford the best designers to make clothes that accent their best features and hide their flaws.

So what can you do? Try things that make you feel better. Experiment with make-up, hairstyles, and clothes. Start something new in your life. You can volunteer at your local animal shelter or hospital or nursing home or food kitchen or thrift shop. You can go read to, visit, or write the history of your elderly neighbor or relative. You can learn something online such as how to do Origami, beading, felting, stained glass, or you can join a cycling team, bowling team, hiking group, book club, or sports group or gym.

If you were near the end of your timeline of life, you would look back and realize that true beauty lies below the surface. People whom you think are beautiful might be miserable people to live with and what is really important is what you can’t see. You can lose your looks in an instant from a health issue or accident. If you are a nice, kind, loving person who thinks of others and does for others, your beauty will shine outward and people will be attracted to you. Looks can attract but it’s what a person is like on the inside that will make them want to stay long term.

I think these things will help you to start feeling as pretty as I am sure you are, both in and out.

Other
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