None Better

Variety, they say, is the spice of life. Imagine how boring the world would have been if everything was the same. If foods tasted the same, all countries had the same climate and culture, all animals behaved the same and all humans looked the same. Living in such a world would be such a bore. I surely would not want to live in that kind of world. Some of us like it that "men" are in "sizes" because it makes us appreciate mother nature for her beautiful diversity. This diversity however isn't always appreciated by all, especially the class of people who feel they have been living in the wrong body.

When it comes to the human body, the appreciation begins from the various shapes and colours it can take. The interesting part is that the control the "owner" of the body has over it is not great...especially when it comes to colour (unless extreme measures are deployed). It is common to see 'light complexioned' people who have curiously darker looking knuckles. It might be a skin condition for some of them but for some others, that suggests some form of skin bleaching. People have the free choice to do to their body whatever they choose to, as long as it makes them happy. But in my experience, beneath those "body modifications" lie some measure of self esteem issues.

When people decide to change some of the features on their bodies, it is often because they are not totally satisfied with what they currently have. More often than you think, many people have one time wished to be able to change one thing about their bodies. Some cannot because the processes required for these modifications are usually pricey, and they cannot afford them. Some have chosen not to change because they have made up their minds not to allow what they wish to change dictate their happiness. So, they have accepted and embraced what they have.

Non-acceptance usually stems from low self confidence and the less self confidence you have, the more external validation you will seek. Validation may be in the form of trying to fit into a particular mould, or trying to be acceptable to people or trying to appear to be what you are not. For some people, what others think about them is more important than how they feel about themselves. Never happy with themselves, but ever happy to please others around them. Whether or not the people matter to them; whether or not they are happy themselves. Until you accept yourself as you are, it will be almost impossible for people to accept you. There is no way you are going to love something you do not appreciate. It is like trying to sell a product you do not use. You will never be able to convince a man in freefall to buy your parachute.

In the end, what really matters to people around us is who we are within. The body is just a vehicle, a container carrying the essence of you. Care for it as best as you can, but do not let what you think others think about you decide what to do to it. Whatever you choose to do to it must stem from the satisfaction you hope to derive from it. Appreciate, accept and love yourself, for there is none other better. There is no shape as perfect as yours. No face as good-looking as yours. No voice more sonorous, no shape more attractive. Look in the mirror and see God's favourite creation - you.