Flowers and Stars

" I want to apologize to the women I have called pretty,

 before I've called them intelligent or brave.

 I am sorry I made it sound as though

something as simple as what you're born with

is the most you have to be proud of

when your spirit has crushed mountains.

From now on I will say things like, your are resilient

or, you are extraordinary.

Not because I don't think you're pretty,

but because you are so much more than that."

-Rupi Kaur

This poem has influenced my life recently, not only in the way I act, but the way I treat others. But this isn't just to women, and it isn't only about your looks. It is so much more than that. This poem to me, when in context of my life, has me apologizing to every boy I've called cute before wondering what his hopes and dreams are. It has caused me to stop being jealous of girls because they are prettier, and instead be proud of myself because I am resilient. This poem has emphasized that we are not what we are born with, we are what we make ourselves. As a society, we are not just pretty or handsome, we are outgoing, stubborn, successful, outstanding. We are more than what you can see in the mirror. The mirror doesn't know that you have the universe in your soul, or the mind capacity to change the world with one idea, the mirror only reflects what its shown. Personally, I am a victim to this. I strive to see myself as pretty, and have others call me pretty, because it is easier to get a compliment on how you look than whats on the inside. In today's world you are more likely to be complimented on your looks than your intelligence, and to me that is a shame. 

                             THERE IS MORE TO YOU THAN YOUR LOOKS. 

This poem also stood out to me because of its last line. "You are so much more than that." You have worth. You are important. You are valued. So instead of living in a way that makes you unhappy, live for you, because you are so much more than that. You deserve the world, not a mere blade of grass. You deserve all the divine things you can imagine, and yet you're found settling for whats there. Convenience is not what you deserve. We all deserve extraordinary measures to remind you that you matter. When you are worthy of the stars, you can't continue to settle for the flowers. Look up! The stars are there waiting for you to make the first move to reach them! No matter how pretty a flower is, remember you deserve the stars because you are so much more than that.

DON'T SETTLE FOR FLOWERS WHEN YOU DESERVE THE STARS AND THE UNIVERSE. 

You are brave, you are intelligent, you are resilient, you are extraordinary. 

Go into the world around you and show others not only how great you are, but also how great they can be.