define: beauty

welcome to the world, darling. here's a list of expectations:
you must turn yourself into the perfect temptation.
the people of the world are counting on you,
they'll be watching and judging everything that you do.

you're not really hungry, put that food down.
the mirror was showing a few extra pounds.
don't you dare believe that you are worth something more
you are your appearance and the clothes that you wore.
you're sad on the inside, but don't let it show.
you have too many weaknesses, no one can know.
have an opinion that matches what's socially acceptable,
copy what you see in the media, make yourself susceptible.

these standards and more are what women must face.
constantly pressured to be the image of elegance and grace.
step away from the toilet, remove the finger from your throat.
you're perfect, despite what the magazines wrote.
throw away the bottle of pills, it's okay to feel down.
if you ignore your emotions, surely you'll drown.
away with the scale, you are more than a number.
wake up! society has left you in a mind-numbing slumber.

have you ever felt so numb and removed that it causes physical pain?
do you wake up in the morning, thinking there's nothing to gain?
when did it become a sin to love who you are?
who says it's all that bad to be a little bit bizarre?
aren't you tired of seeking safety inside skin you've been taught to detest?
aren't you tired of being told that you're not good enough at your best?

stop letting people tell you who, when, why and how to love.
i know it's hard to do, but you must try to rise above.
ignore what people say. you know, they're jealous for good reason.
by putting yourself first, you have committed no treason.
since when does society get to decide and control whats beautiful?
beauty is a decision that comes from within. it should not be dutiful.
the world will constantly tell you that you fail to meet expectations.
but you are more than a slave to seduction and flirtation.

enough with the embarrassment for the things that  make you unique.
you have a capable voice, don't swallow it! speak!
stop sneaking past the mirror, and avoiding your reflection.
the person staring back at you is worth further inspection.
the world would have us change this physicality and that,
but you are a person worth loving, and not a stepping mat.

there is beauty in the way your eyes crinkle when you smile.
a beauty so incredible, people feel the need to beguile.
you don't need any cream to smooth out your fascinations
your laughter can feed lonely hearts,  don't leave them in starvation.
stop obsessing over your body, it will inevitably die.
instead, focus on the legacy that you can leave behind.

you don't need laxatives or diet pills to slim your personality.
don't allow yourself to drown in this destructive mentality.
take a moment to reexamine the miracle that is you.
the world has so many cracks, and you can be the glue.

you are more than your waistline and you are more than your past.
you are the brilliant thoughts you think and your potential is vast.
you are the people you have helped and the lives that you will save.
you are worth years and years of living, you don't deserve an early grave.
words cannot define you, regardless of the standards pounded into your mind.
you are different, you are good enough, you are strong, you are kind.

you may not believe it, but that doesn't make it less true.
the world is in need of the lovely that is you.
forget the whispered criticisms, they aren't worth a second thought.
forget the unfair fallacies of perfection that you've been taught.
start looking in the mirror and liking what you see.
no matter how much you want to deny it, you are not the enemy.

in the dictionary and among society, beauty has the wrong definition.
cross it out, and redefine it. that is your life's mission.
it might not be easy, and it might feel like a lie.
but once you start to love yourself, you'll be unable to deny.
you aren't flawless, you aren't perfect, but that is okay.
start learning to love yourself, today is the day.