Beauty is only skin deep.

There was a time in my life when the world practically ended if I couldn’t find the perfect outfit. I didn’t throw tantrums often as a kid, but for some reason, when it came to clothes, especially for special occasions, I would completely unravel. I remember one specific day when we were getting ready to go to a family gathering. My mom, dad, sister, and I were all getting dressed, and I just could not find the right thing to wear. Nothing felt good enough. I stormed around the house, crying in frustration. 

In the middle of my little fashion-fueled meltdown, my mom looked at me calmly and said, “Beauty is only skin deep.” At the time, I rolled my eyes and probably muttered something about how she just didn’t get it. But now, looking back, I realize that line wasn’t just about the outfit. It was about me. My mom wasn’t scolding me for caring about how I looked, she was gently reminding me that beauty, real beauty, starts with the way we carry ourselves, the way we treat others, and yes, even the way we handle disappointment.

That moment stuck with me more than I realized at the time. I’ve carried those words with me through moments where I’ve felt less than or caught up in appearances. It’s funny how something as simple as getting dressed for a family party turned into a lifelong lesson about self-worth and perspective. And now, whenever I find myself spiraling over what to wear, I pause and hear her voice reminding me: beauty is only skin deep, and attitude runs much deeper.