This was me when I was 13. I came across this picture recently and the awful truth was I looked at this picture and was so grateful that I didn’t have that terrible haircut anymore, that I wasn’t an awkward weird high-schooler who had no friends, and the biggest detail that I noticed: I don’t have that big oddly shaped nose anymore.
I was hit by a car when I was 14. I was walking with friends at night and a car hit me a threw me 30 feet. I walked away with a broken leg and nose. My nose was so badly broken that the surgeon told me that I would have problems with breathing for the rest of my life if I didn’t have major reconstructive surgery. He handed me a book of new noses and asked me which nose I wanted. I chose a smaller pointed delicate nose, because I was mocked by all of my peers for that nose, or I guess that’s what I thought at the time.
After I got the nose job I felt like I was a different person. I felt beautiful and men were finally attracted to me. I didn’t feel like a weirdo and outcast. Or so I thought.
The interesting thing is that I didn’t really change. My perception of myself changed. But I didn’t really truly change. This might ruin things for people who think that a face lift or boob job is going to make them beautiful and /or feel better about themselves. The truth is that I hadn’t changed at all. For the past 30 years I’ve still been this awkward scared girl who wanted so badly to fit in and belong. I had to make peace with her today. I told her, you are beautiful. I love you and you are beautiful. You are worthy of love and real meaningful friendships. You don’t have to hide and I will stand up for you and not let the bullies hurt you and make you wish you looked like someone else.
This is what we need to do for ourselves and our children more than anything. Money, success, and intelligence isn’t going to matter 30 years later when you’re facing who you really are and realizing that what it really boils down to is self love. Real self love. I don’t regret my life, I’ve learned from it and I hope that sharing this story has helped anyone who reads it.
Thank you for reading.
Amy Ouzoonian
selflove, youarebeautiful, growth, change, grateful, easter
Author: Amy Ouzoonian
Mother, Author, Yogi, CEO/Founder of MoodConnect
