A piece of my confidence

I once had a close friend in college who told me not to smile with my teeth — “it doesn’t look good,” they said.

I was hurt, though I didn’t show it. From then on, I stopped smiling with my teeth in photos.

A small piece of my confidence was cut out that day. You can check all my photos from college , it didn't have any smiles with my teeth out, one comment has a huge impact on a person's confidence , isn't it ? Because I was a teenager then , budding slowly into adulthood and that taught me it's not going to get any easier!

But this wasn’t the first time someone chipped away my confidence , people did it in parts during the different phases of my life. When I was around 9 or 10, my own dad criticized my weight. Maybe he was worried for me(I would like to think about it that way) , but he was also the one who pampered me and introduced me to junk food. He himself isn’t perfect.Years later, my first love did the same — constantly calling me fat during those college days. The sting, the pain, the shame, the embarrassment — I still remember it. I was just a teenager when he called me fat , he himself was short for a guy if we are brutally criticising people (and speaking of flaws) , yet I never called him short , when he called me fat (not even once ) it's because I know that , this is not his fault it's what he is born with .But my friends back then asked me "Why is he calling you fat , when he himself is short ?" Guess my love was too deep than the insult , naive girl!

I’m writing this today because so many people feel demotivated or embarrassed — about how they look, how they speak, or even for failing at something.

The worst thing you can do to someone is hack away their confidence with your overpowering, insensitive words — without realizing you are the problem, not the person with flaws.

You just failed to see your own imperfections while pointing out someone else’s. To everyone who’s ever been shamed, I want to virtually hug you through this post.

Remember, nobody is perfect, especially the ones think they are.

And sometimes, your so-called “flaws” can look far more beautiful than a white-washed version of yourself. 🤍