Being Chopped with Jeri Stein

Jeri Stein

I hate my nose, my eyes are too small, and I'm too short.

What an opener, I know, but these are real thoughts I have about myself. I'm sure you, the reader, have your own insecurities as well. Though, as of recent I have noticed that these thoughts have been getting louder. It may be the several Instagram snipes I have gotten, or my mirror has a cruel sense of humor, but recently, I have just not loved how my face looks. With this discovery has been a laser focus on how I look at all times. I have to look good all the time. If a bad photo is taken of me, if the mirror says I look awful, my day is ruined and everything sucks. But why, why care so much about such trivial things?

In the best way possible, I have never been somebody known for their looks, not in a fishing for compliments way, but when people describe me, my looks aren't what comes to people’s minds first, It's my humor that they think of, my personality, and the way it takes me only two tries to parallel park. People associate me with so many other good qualities, so why have I chosen to make my looks a top priority when it barely makes up who I am? My face and body are merely a vessel utilized for writing deep thoughts with Jeri Stein columns and letterbox movie reviews, so why do my looks matter in the first place? 

I say we must free ourselves from the shackles of always needing to “look good,” because frankly, the best I ever feel is when I don't care about my looks in the first place. To be chopped is to be free. It will forever be impossible not to care about your looks okay. Society has made looks the most important thing. If looks weren't important, we wouldn't have 65 year olds walking around looking like their skin is hiding two giant water balloons in their face. All I ask is that you try to care less, see that Instagram photo where you look awful in the background, and laugh. Say it with me, I'm chopped and that's ok, I'm chopped and that's ok, I AM CHOPPED AND THAT'S OK.