In general, our eyes are used to observe and perceive, but not until recently have I become acutely aware of the fact that what our eyes take in may not be what is actually all there. Let me further explain. Since I can only speak for myself, that is just what I will do and therefore I'll also use myself as an example for my explanation.
When my eyes "observe" myself I see: wide hips, un-proportioned to my upper half, only intensified by my short stature; knocked knees and white stretch marks, from being heavyset during my middle school days. I see a scar on my neck, from a hole I was born with, that many have taken for a hicky. In profile, my nose has a distinct bump in it making it crooked and my facial features are very sharp, often coming off stern and angry. I see short wide legs unfit to be seen in shorts. I see imperfection.
Why? Why do I not see the other things? The things I so dearly love about myself? Through someone else's eyes I may observe: Long, healthy, soft to the touch, hair that requires little attention to be presentable for the day. I may see striking, captivating eyes the colour of the blue sea framed by long black eyelashes. I would see a ever so tiny waist, that could only be truly shown off by a specifically tailored dress. I may venture to say that I would see beauty.
What makes me this way you may ask? Should I blame the kids in middle school who may have teased me or the boys who have said hurtful things in moments of thoughtlessness? Or should I blame society for giving girls an impossible standard for what is deemed beautiful? No, the blame should be shifted to no one. Though all of those things have played a part in the way I see myself, putting blame somewhere will not fix the way we (I guess I should say I because I said I could only speak for myself haha) perceive ourselves.
Maybe our marks of imperfection are what make us perfect in the grand scheme of things. We are all perfectly imperfect. And isn't that an equalizing thought?
