So how many blog-posts and videos have you come across lately, motivating you to go about whispering into everyone’s ears – You are beautiful? Ah! Are those videos heartwarming or what? Do they not moisten your eyes? Oh, you all benignant beings, you empathetic, tender-hearted, you!!!! I say – Oh, you liar, you hypocrite, you catalyst of superficiality you!! If you are hoping to read kind words of forged encouragement – save your time and skip to the next article. I am not looking at ingratiate myself with you.

I’m here to speak the truth and the one speaking the truth more than often struggles to endear oneself to others. But does that constitute feeding a lie – You’re beautiful, and you’re beautiful, and you’re beautiful, you all are beautiful. No! That is not true. Can you cross your heart and claim that every single face you encounter on an average day is pretty? No. Then why applauding a bunch of self-styled internet-gurus doing nothing but galvanizing this myth – every little girl should be convinced of her beauty, all women complemented on her exquisiteness? Somehow they have failed to surmise the greater priorities women today have set for themselves. In their cocoon, they envision women gaining self-confidence only when acknowledged of the lure their faces, their body, and their hair hold; only if assured of the perfection of their nose, skin and hair will they find their worth. Clearly, these pseudo-benevolent gurus implying that confidence and self-worth are bi-products of beauty.

Sorry, but I beg to differ. I don’t echo their thoughts to the least for interacting with numerous women on multiple agendas is what makes my day – many of them are blessed with hair that reflect the sun and skin that puts silk to shame; others don’t. They are just average, and mostly below average looking women. Hate me as much you want for I called a woman below-average looking, but news flash – less than beautiful women do exist and they don’t long for the feign kindness oozing out of your gold plated words – You are beautiful. “I own a mirror, in case you didn’t know” I have witnessed a woman I highly admire calling out a preacher’s bluff. She carries herself with dignity and couldn’t care less for you and me to validate her looks. Women surrounding me are strong, informed, and embrace themselves – that, in full cognizance of their non-beautiful reality. They are the ones we ought to idolize, for they are enlightened and self-assured. The upbringing of our little girls should be emulated on the glory of such exemplary women.

If a girl peers into the mirror and falls in love with what she sees, let her cherish herself. But deceiving those not blessed with alluring features into believing the myth, is only going to prove counter-effective in the long run, life will eventually lead them to someone bold enough to rub reality in their faces, and turn their heart into pieces. Next time don’t tell your daughter she is beautiful – explain, it doesn’t matter if she is not, because nothing hinders her to build on her inner beauty, and that is the only facet man has influence over. Let her know that no dream she chooses will be contained by the dullness of her hair or scars on her skin. A hurting patient needs is a doctor whose touch emits compassion, supple hands alone don’t bring him any respite. A teacher is not the one that bewitches her students, but the one that inspires them, shapes their malleable minds into treasurable citizens. Beauty is easy on the eyes, one is lucky if born beautiful. But who loses a dime anyway if the genetic lottery throws one off? Next time your daughter asks you – Mamma, am I the prettiest? Just try telling her, – It’s not important, as long as you are the owner of a beautiful heart and a wise mind. She is born with unique magic and that cannot be reflected on the exterior.