The Ugly Truth About External Beauty
As I reflect on my university days, which started with my admission. I’m reminded of a peculiar phenomenon that left me both amused and concerned. It was the year 2020, and the COVID-19 pandemic had forced our university to shift to online classes. Little did I know that this would lead to a flurry of proposals from my male classmates, all of whom I had never met in person.
At first, I thought it was just a coincidence, but as the days went by, the proposals kept pouring in. I was taken aback by the sheer number of messages I received, all of which were variations of the same theme: "I love you, will you be my girlfriend?" It was as if I had become an overnight sensation, and my WhatsApp and Email profile picture had become the sole reason, although it was compulsory to display our profiles for better identification purposes, for this newfound attention.
As I looked at my profile picture, I couldn’t help but chuckle. It was a decent photo, but I wouldn’t call it extraordinary. Yet, it seemed to have cast a spell on my male classmates. They would send me messages like, "Mere liye to wo Chand tare bhi Tod laye" 😏(I would pluck the stars and moon for you), and "Tumhari muskan mere dil ko roshan karti hai" 🧐(Your smile illuminates my heart). It was as if they had fallen head over heels in love with me, without even knowing me.
But as the proposals continued to pour in, I began to feel uneasy. It dawned on me that these boys weren't interested in getting to know me as a person; they were only infatuated with my external beauty. It was a sobering realization, and it made me question the values of our society.
In today's digital age, social media platforms have made it easy for us to curate a virtual image of ourselves. We can upload photos, videos, and stories that showcase our best selves, and hide our imperfections. But in doing so, we're creating a culture that values external beauty over internal beauty.
As the great poet, Robert Frost, once said,
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." But in our pursuit of external validation, we're forgetting to take the road less traveled by. We're neglecting the qualities that truly make us beautiful: kindness, empathy, compassion, and intelligence.
So, I'd like to ask you, dear reader, what is true beauty? Is it the physical appearance that we present to the world, or is it the beauty that shines from within? Is it the external validation that we seek from others, or is it the self-love and self-acceptance that we cultivate within ourselves?
Let me leave you with a small funny poem that sums up this phenomenon:
"In the land of social media, where selfies reign supreme,
A girl's external beauty is the ultimate dream.
But little do we realize, as we swipe and we stare,
That true beauty lies within, and is beyond compare."
So, the next time you find yourself scrolling through social media, remember that the people you see on your screen are more than just their physical appearance. They have thoughts, feelings, and experiences that make them unique and beautiful.
Let's strive to create a world that values internal beauty over external beauty. A world where people are appreciated for who they are, beyond their physical appearance. A world where we can be our true selves, without fear of judgment or rejection.
In conclusion, my dear reader, I urge you to look beyond the external beauty that surrounds you. Look for the beauty that shines from within, and cultivate it in yourself and others. For it is this internal beauty that will truly make our world a more beautiful and loving place.
