"Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it"

Who defines what is beautiful? To me, a lot of different things are beautiful to me.
The beach at night time, or the country lands at dawn. The beginning of a new life, and that look of excitement in one's eye. Beauty is not something you have. It's something you are. Inside and out. Having a beautiful soul is.. amazing. No one ever stops to see beyond the cover of the book. It may not be pretty and attractive on the outside, but inside is a fantastic story just waiting to be to be told.
Being real is beautiful. Not that bleach blonde with the rub on tan and colored contacts. People who love themselves for who they are, are the most beautiful.
For so long I've been uncomfortable with the person that I am. I've always seen myself as 'that girl with the pretty face'. Like, people can't see past my exterior to see who I really am. The real me. This is a poem I read in 8th grade:
 Imperfect Me:
I used to try to be perfect
perfect hair
perfect date
the perfect makeup on my face
the perfect friend for all to see
I tried to be a perfect me.
I'm tall, and just a little plump
My nose has got a tiny bump
My teeth?- too big!
My ears?- too long!
the me I see is always wrong!
but then, my heart broke free.
Who I am is what I give
And if I give with all my might
the me I am will be just right.
So, here I am, Imperfect Me.

For that poem to be a silly little kid's poem, it's always meant a lot to me. I'm learning to accept myself. I know who I am, who I'm not, and who I want to be. I am smart, I have goals, and I AM BEAUTIFUL. If someone can't see the beautiful me, then they don't deserve to have me in their lives, right?
-L