The above quote much sums up my previous post about Fake Your Face Video Project (click the link for info and how to contribute) by Emily and Imaan.
Truth be told, there was a time I was impressionable enough to be dictated upon by the media. I used to be really conscious about every little thing that was “wrong” with my face. At times I would wish they could get fixed with magic (for sharp objects make me uncomfortable). Being traumatized by celebrity cosmetic surgery disasters helped shove that idea out of my head.
That aside, just getting over myself and shifting focus to other people and talking to them also broke the mold of my ideas about beauty.
People whose looks so many others look up to and consider “perfect” — I found out that even they can be incredibly insecure and unhappy with their appearance. Maybe it’s just something we all go through. I’ve even learned that sometimes the feature I think is most attractive on a person, is the very thing that they don’t like about themselves. So if you’re feeling ugly, doesn’t necessarily mean that other people see you as such. They could even be thinking the opposite.
There are a couple of people I consider some of the most beautiful individuals I’ve ever seen. They’re not supermodels or anything like that. And what I love about them are their quirks: his eyebags and dark circles that emphasize his soulful eyes, the way her lips look when the lipstick has been partially smudged off, his upturned nostrils, her goofy smile and uneven teeth, his unruly and expressive eyebrows, the way her legs look like her kicks would make guys cry, the way he talks through only one side of his mouth.
Some of you are probably laughing at me, but those are honestly the traits I find impossibly attractive and endearing on those people. It might sound weird but that kinda made me feel that maybe someone would also appreciate my peculiar features the same way. That was enough for a little boost of confidence, and reassurance that I’m fine just the way I am.
Source: fullpaidjustice
In our lifetime, we’ve all had our differences with at least one person. Our challenge for you this week is to make peace with that person. Say you’re sorry or accept their apology. It’s a new year, let’s all start it right by not holding grudges and being mad at someone. Make this a year for happiness and friendship not scheming and dislike.
Sometimes things just don’t work out between people. It’s totally normal. After everyone has had some time to cool down, I find that feels better to just acknowledge that maybe both parties didn’t handle the situation as well as they could have. We’re all bound to make mistakes after all. It doesn’t seem like anybody really wins when people hold grudges.
Forgive them even if they’re not sorry. You might gain a new friend, or be reunited with an old one. However, if they want to keep the proverbial stick up their butt then that is unfortunate, but that unsanitary metaphorical stick is theirs to deal with.
Even if they don’t want to talk to you, just clear out the anger and hate from your own mind. Just let it go. You’ll feel better, I promise. :)
Source: carpediemdaily
I encourage everyone to watch this video of quotes from Gerard, whether you like My Chemical Romance or not. This is why they are my heroes.
It’s for everyone who’s ever felt depressed
or hurt
or rejected
or treated like an outsider
for being different.
Some of Gerard’s words from the video:
● Nothing is worth hurting yourself over. NOTHING is worth taking your life over.
● The difference we wanna make is, number one, to make these kids know that they’re not alone, that they’re actually not that messed up and that they can do whatever they want… And really just to get people to get over their stuff so they can live.
● It’s more important to keep yourself alive, there’s nothing worth even hurting yourself over… It’s normal, it’s completely normal to be depressed.
● I mean, we started this band thinking the world was extremely ugly. And I think now we realize that it’s more beautiful than we thought.
● So if anything, you can take it from a guy and his band who used to think everything was shit. And we’ve found that it’s not.
And from me:
You are never, ever alone. There are people out there who will understand you. You just have to reach out. Don’t shut yourself out, don’t take it out on other people by hurting them, and definitely never take your own life. You just have to keep living, and be kind, and be yourself — and you’ll find that despite how terrible the world can be, it can be really beautiful too.
(Source: fuckyeahmcrquotes)
Open up your heart. You might get hurt along the way because it’s a fact of life that bad people exist, but eventually you’ll find at least one true friend who will make it all worth it.
As I’ve said before: It’s okay to be you. It’s okay to be weird.
Other people’s opinion of you shouldn’t matter. Don’t miss out on opportunities to do things you love just because you don’t want other people saying mean things about you.
It’s your life and your time, and it’s YOU who has to live with the consequences of your decisions so make them for yourself. You should always strive to make yourself happy over all others.
(Source: fuckyeahgerardquotes)
The fine print on the above quote is that you should also be able to differentiate when people are just giving you shit to bring you down, or if people who actually care about you are trying to give you advice to be a better person. You don’t give your friends the middle finger. You work on issues together. Sometimes it can hurt to hear what you’ve been doing wrong, but real friends stab each other at the front, and with the best and purest of intentions.
You will find people out there who will love you for who you are. They will accept your imperfections, your shortcomings, your mistakes.
Be yourself and be kind. Things will get better. They did for us, and they can for you.
Some people seem to see me and my friends as a group of happy-go-lucky miscreants without a care in the world.
But I think the reason my friends are so kind, and the reason we embrace having fun so much is that we know all too well what it’s like to be hurt, and what it’s like to be depressed. We’ve been there. Some of us are still dealing with it. Our lives are far from perfect, we’re still human and make our share of mistakes, and we continue to work on ourselves one day at a time. Life doesn’t have to be perfect for it to be beautiful.
And the reason I share the things we do with you guys is to remind you to laugh, and to give hope to those who need it that you can make things better.
A lot of you have come to know me through my dA account, and through my dA journal posts particularly. One of the reasons I started blogging was just to remind myself of the things I have to be thankful for — the wonderful people in my life, and how much our silly adventures make me smile and laugh, and how they make life worth living. I needed that to look back on whenever I’d feel teetering on the edge of depression. Something that came as an unexpected blessing was how I received letters from people saying how somehow I had saved them. That my friends and I had given them something to believe in.
To hear that is more than I could have ever hoped to get in return for blogging. On behalf of my friends, I’d also like to say THANK YOU to you guys who have stuck with us and believed in us and inspired us to be better human beings. Your faith means more to us than you know.
(Source: fuckyeahgerardquotes)
If you think I might be able to help you with something related to this post, send me a message. (You can ask anonymously, or I can answer privately if you request it.) It takes me a while to reply sometimes, but I will do my best.
For what it’s worth, I’m here for you.
xoxo
Jin
(via geraardvark)
To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others;
To leave the world a little better; whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.This is the meaning of success.
Source: siximpossiblethings
My name is Jin. I'm a freelance painter, illustrator and photographer from the Philippines. 
