anyone could tell you
I was never a raving beauty
even my family would agree
too many freckles
not enough oomph
that indefinable thing
(whatever it was)
that made other girls stunning
think of them as Barbies
and me…a paper doll
not much without all the added extras
and even they left details missing
honestly…
it was me
never comfortable in my own skin
and it showed
I didn’t really know how to fit in
the oddball
ugly duckling
(and we all know how that turned out)
the unexpected…nothing
I had a blue eyed blonde cousin
pretty and whip-cord smart
attracted all the boys eyes
(not that she ever noticed)
everyone placed her above me
praised her lovely…ignored mine
but not her
she told me once…
how she had to play the game
just to be allowed to remain
“I have to play dumb…
so I don’t intimidate
my blonde comes from a bottle…
without it I’m just a mouse
and without my makeup…
I never stand out”
but she showed me…
highlighting my own brand of beauty
pointed out what she envied
and that…oh man…
that shit was everything
because nobody else ever bothered
I thought to myself…
that’s bullshit
if she’s supposed to be “better than me”
and still fighting to be seen…
the system is rigged
there’s no real way to win
I think it’s designed to make us all feel inadequate
no matter what we do…
it’s never enough
who knows what they’ll get out of it?
so here’s my philosophy…
I’m beautiful…
you’re beautiful…
as long as we’re true to ourselves
and that’s something nobody else can ever be
and all the judgers…
can just go to hell
hello beautiful Willow she sounds like a lovely person and you are beautiful I never think of the odd duck when I think of you…you fit just right… great write ❤️
She is a lovely person and she never engaged in the comparison game. She gave me my first ounce of self-affirmation and I’ll be forever grateful to her for seeing what nobody else did. Thank you, Brenda 🧡
Chère W.,
Amen to that!
I’m with Crimsin.
No second thoughts about it.
Keep the courage…
Kind regards, Gus
It took me a lot of years to come into my, as it were. Did modeling in my youth and still didn’t believe in me. Thank you, Gus
An insightful write, Willow!
It makes me think of Snow-white from this perspective.
“Mirror mirror on the wall
I am enough
F* them all”
Hah! I love that version of the chant! I think I’ll keep that one in mind. Thank you, M.E
Willow, you are stating facts. There is no winning “if she is supposed to be better than me” F*em
I look back at old photos now and think wtf? I don’t think they can win if we don’t play the game. So I bowed out in favor of just being me. Thank you, Fia
Great poem with an honest message. Fuck them all! Bravo!
Thank you! 🙌
Comparison is the thief of joy.
Let those that judge lose their joy and you dear Willow keep yours.
Great write.
🙏
P.S. If that avatar is a picture of you, you look more than fine to me.
I think if it hadn’t been those closest to me (my cousin not included) doing the comparing and always pointing out my failings, it wouldn’t have been so easy to believe the bullshit. And yes, the avatar is me. Hair colour subject to change without notice, but it always returns to its natural white. Thank you, Peter
Powerfully penned, Willow. Excellent write with layers and layers of depth and honesty my friend. To be honest I was oblivious to flirting or signs of interest from women. My friends would tell me after the fact that so and so was all into me, I laugh about it now, but I just didn’t think women thought of me that way. lol. I didn’t think highly of myself and when subscribing to that way of thought, it left to me blind to possibilities I guess. That was deep. lol. Sorry about the flashback. You’re a beautiful woman and a kindred spirit my friend. Appreciate you.
Damian
I lived with my cousin and her family for a year in 8th grade and I remember coming around the corner to her room and hearing her tell her best friend she was afraid her boyfriend would like me better because I was prettier than her. I froze in my tracks in shock. The way society (and family) feeds us such bullshit to tear us down is mind blowing. It wasn’t long after that incident that she told me how she has to play the game. She chose to continue to play the game…on her terms though. I said fuck that and stopped trying. Amazing what we see when we look back through the mirror of time, isn’t it? Thank you, my friend
Dear W,
Fuck yeah!
Crazy the amount of time we spend on comparisons and standard’s of beauty. I really appreciated this piece for the insightful honesty and realization of standing up to the game. Well done. H🌷
My daughter was enjoying this until she reached the section on my cousin’s reality, then she started crying. Reality hit her. There is no way to win, so let’s not play. Thank you, Honoria