Post Secret Sunday: Beauty

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I have A/AA breasts, my nose is a cross between Lilo's and Rudolph's, my feet and hands are small, I'm barely 5'2", my butt has freckles, and there are some battle scars underneath my tattoos.


And you know what?


I WOULD NOT CHANGE A THING.


My body's not ideal, but it's mine nonetheless.


My small breasts? They're just right for the right hands, and someday they'll swell with nourishment for my child. 


My not-cute-as-a-button nose? They're an inheritance from my dad, and in my over 20 years of existence, have guided me to such wonderful scents as safety and unconditional love (my mom, spelling like Ivory soap and Chanel No. 5), first love (Acqua di Gio), and true love (sun-ripened mangoes). 


My dainty feet have taken me from O'ahu to Harvard, and soon to Istanbul. My small hands lovingly cook food from scratch, and have held my dad as he lay dying.


My butt has landed on ice too many times as my friends and I (attempt to) skate across Frog Pond, laughing and enjoying each other's company.


My scars are proof that I am stronger than cancer and Hurricane Isabel.

In these flaws and inadequacies, I see beauty and feel strength.

Post Secret Sunday: Different is not the 'other,' but an extension of 'us."

Moments and stories like these ignite my appreciation of the power of media. As frustrating as it is to be constantly bombarded with articles about what so-and-so wore to the red carpet, or how DMX violated his probation for the zillionth time, or how many cups of coffee Taylor and Jake shared in their courtship, I'm glad that shows like Glee are in the spotlight. I'm glad that LGBT and differently abled teens are not only represented in mainstream media, but are depicted as humans who just happen to be LGBT or have disabilities, rather than be defined by them. They're not the other; they're a part of us.