REAL LIFE

Real Beauty

By Kate, age 18, California



I find it very difficult today to pick up a magazine or turn on the TV without being reminded that our culture thrives on youth and beauty. Often times we are smothered in advertisements for products that will better us so we can match up to today's demographic. Whether it be a remedy for bags under our eyes, a vanishing cream for cellulite, or a seemingly harmless injection for wrinkles, people want to be beautiful. I admit to it. But what I don't fully understand is how so many people work so hard on their external beauty but never take the time to realize their inner beauty. When did the unpretentious soul discover vanity?

I feel as if beauty is forced upon us. As many times as we hear people say, "You are beautiful inside and out", we tend to take the "out" part more seriously. Our world has become so obsessed with the need for beauty that we don't realize the beauty already existing around us.

So many human beings, especially females, develop low self-esteem when they see these beautifully photo-shopped men and women on TV and in magazines. I find it nearly impossible to walk down the street without seeing a fashion ad displaying luridly thin models who are scantily clad. I am not trying to be a hypocrite, for I too have been modeling for some time now. I just feel as if I am doing it for all the wrong reasons.

Everyone should feel good about themselves no matter who they are or what they look like. I want to be an advocate for self-acceptance. I just feel incredibly guilty for being so vain and judgmental toward those who are not what society expects them to be. But honestly, how can our society expect us to be anything short of ourselves? We were not put on this earth to make others feel bad about themselves. In my opinion, we were put on this earth to fulfill our calling and to make a difference. Love is the real movement. When we learn to love ourselves for exactly who we are, acceptance of others becomes second nature.

I truly believe our society needs a wake up call. At the end of it all, what we give is what we get returned. So if you choose to stick with the hype, the so-called beauty of it all, that's your choice. Just know that the real beauty already exists. It's inside your heart. Beauty exists in everything you do. Accept who are and what you are all about. No anti-wrinkle cream is worth the money when you can have all the beauty you want for free.

Learn to love yourself. (Easier said than done.)



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February & March Magazine Issues

March 15, 2012

The February and March issues of Sweet Designs Magazine are now online, featuring a combined 53 new articles and features!!

- Cover: Stephanie Lynn reflects on 5 years
- Cover: India (of Darn-licious knitwear)
- Life in the dumps (moving in with my bf)
- The difference between men and women
- Angels among us (parts 1 and 2)
- Arts graduates & the dark night of the soul
- Triple threat (how I survived my teen yrs)
- Dating isn't easy (my true story)
- How to turn not-so-great gifts ... (fashion)
- Ten reasons to love being single
- Taking the big leap (college)
- Valentine's Day (not what you'd expect!)
- The last of the cold (hopefully) (fashion)
- A month full of love
- Ten tips for successful airline travel
- Reasons I love writing for SDM
- Who needs love?
- They're not all the same
- The life I'm glad I don't have (fiction)
- Professional dress/ finding Fendi (fashion)
- An airport anniversary: a true story
- Inappropriate Facebook photos
- The perks of a big city (college)
- A night(mare) to forget (part 2)
- The Anita Blake series (book review)
- Saving June by Hannah Harrington (book)
- Under the Mesquite by GG McCall (book)
- The Lullaby by Sarah Dessen (book)
- If I Stay by Gayle Foreman (book review)
- My sweetheart (original poetry)
- Isn't it funny (original poetry)
- The stranger (original poetry)
- A winter wonderland (original poetry)
- One night valentine
- The thick envelopes (college acceptance)
- Southern love
- Healthy hair and vitamins
- It's a date (dating idea alternatives)
- The 30 hour famine
- School's out forever!
- Marching right back into spring? (fashion)
- Dear John
- When TV shows depict your life
- 3 Fun ways to rock spring's hottest trends
- Neglected teeth
- Starting something new
- Guy movies
- To hesitate or dive in?
- Deadly, by Julie Chibbaro (book review)
- Beastly, by Alex Flinn (book review)
- I don't care (poetry)
- Together, alone (poetry)

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