h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I had some plastic surgery done seven years ago, after a car wreck. I had a fairly serious head injury, as well as quite a few others, but I digress.

Anyway, the head wound could have been repaired with only a few stitches with no ill effects to my physical health. But I'd have been left with a huge scar on my forehead and over my left eye. And some people might call me vain, but the degree of scarring I have even after the plastic surgery has me pretty self-conscious, so without it, I can't imagine how I'd feel. I talk about my scars, and people say "what scars?". They don't even notice. But to me, they're glaringly visible and utterly repulsive.

I realise that inner beauty is the most important thing, and I've got more than that than a lot of people, in my humble opinion. But serious disfigurement can be quite a blight on one's self-confidence. And, sorry to say, but while beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, the average eye *is* judgemental and shallow.

I've been seriously contemplating liposuction for five or six years, and I'm only about 15 or so pounds overweight. The only thing that's stopped me is the financial aspect, and that's the truth. And I doubt I'm any more insecure than the "average" person. I think the fact that someone who's only a bit overweight (and not even to the extent where my doctors are concerned about it, mind, so it's not *that* bad) would consider going to such extreme measures to look "normal" should speak to us all about our values. What really is important? Being perfect? Being what society deems "attractive"? Or being truly so? Because as far as people go, I think I *am* beautiful. It's too bad that most people dont see me that way, because they're probably the ones missing out, and not me.

Well yes, they are missing out, not you. This is something often repeated and nevertheless true.
But oddly little consoling?
One needs a lot of strength to like oneself within one's limits, a strenght which needs to be build slowly...while holding on to one's dough.