diq talks

it was a great party to start the new year right.

well, i'm referring to jackie's surprise party, which later surprised those involved in the surprise party, at alexIII - tomas morato. got it?

hats off to my dear "ninong," magsy who was a pure gentleman; a class act the whole evening. despite the endless teasing, he managed to carry it all–with flying colors.

after the dinner, jackie invited us to a late-night coffee. let me guess, she wanted "matamyes," as how she would utter it. (it's better that you hear it straight from her "biko-filled" mouth). 

although not all of us accepted the invitation, those who remained had a fantabulous post-surprise-party-slash-comedic-late-night-coffee.  

we started talking about furby's (spell-check) unmatched vainity.  our conversation touched almost everything from facial care to elbow care; from eyebrow threading to resuscitating a dead nail (would you believe that?); but one: what's our take on VANITY as a lifestyle. something serious? well, it's a matter of perspective. 

that's why i'm here to say my piece. call it, even-late-than-a-late-night-coffee rant.

to begin with, i have nothing against being vain. yes, it has been defined as "an excessively proud of or concerned about one's own appearance", but  let's face it, it has been a way of life for most of us, me included, plus those who are still in denial. vanity maybe an anti-thesis to our "macho-gwapito" definition of a guy, but do we really care? who knows, behind those bathroom doors, the people who keep on attacking the vain ones are, actually, vain themselves? as long as you can support it–honey, it really is an expensive way of life–and if it's transporting you to nirvana, go for it. (just check-out your vanity-meter, you might be pestering even your best friend). 

but make sure you will not let the physical be the foundation of how you see yourself. been there, done that. i remember those days when i put to much weight on how i look. and when puberty struck–hormone imbalances, stress, breakouts and those that came in between–my world almost fell six-feet under the ground.

why shouldn't i be surprised?  

when a flesh-eating common disease started to appear, i almost said goodbye to confidence and self-esteem. why it happened? i was clinging to something temporal–the outer cosmetic. it crumbled. did i expect myself to survive? 

i was just lucky that i have this never-say-die attitude. i am more stubborn than those pesky bumps.  

what i'm trying to say here is that, if you're vain, so be it. but make sure to strike a balance. to put  equal, if not more golds on the other side of the scale: your inner self; the one that's often left unchecked and untouched. 

before, i wouldn't even dare say these things. i would rather say that i didn't believe that confidence should come from within. i would always ask, "what if you didn't have clear ski;, you didn't have all the other things that qualify you as pleasant looking, how can you be confident?" i was wrong; terribly wrong.i invested on something that's transient; on something that age and nature can take away; on something physical. 

now that i have found the (true) light, i rebuilt the way i view myself–clear skin or not. let's face it, despite your tireless effort of achieving that elusive flawless skin, there are times that bumps do appear.

before, i would pray to death to have clear skin like the movie stars. now, i want to dare them. cut your connection with your overrated dermatologists. buy your own kit and do your own thing (without the support of doctors) like me, and let's see who can survive the challenge. considering their line of work, i bet who's going to win. 

before, i was hesitant to look at the mirror. i didn't want to be constantly reminded that i didn't have clear skin. now, the mirror is my best friend.

before, my view started outside then inside; if i didn't have breakouts, i was confident. if i had, it's always low self-esteem. now, whether clear or not, i can face the world.

at this point in my life, i have already embraced the imperfect me who have been suffering because i let the dictates of society to rule how i see myself.  well, why would i let something or someone to judge me based on its or his/her own prejudices?

i love me for being me–the talents, the strengths and weaknesses, and the flaws. these things make up the fabulous me!

to those of you who are still in the journey of finding that potent potion, you're not alone.

to those of you who have already embraced themselves, i celebrate with you. together, let's welcome more souls who will be joining us very soon.  

now, i ask you: look at the mirror and tell yourself what do you see on that piece of glass.

in the final analysis, it's all a matter of perspective.
 

*sparkles!