What is Beautiful?

Say you are standing in the checkout line of your local grocery store and you've finished unloading all of your soon to be purchases onto the conveyor belt and there you are, killing time until the cashier finishes up with the customer in front of you by checking out the tabloids and the People magazines. When you see the covers of these magazines, how do you feel? Do you feel uplifted? Inspired? Beautiful? Determined to be a better person?
Not me. I usually find myself feeling self-conscious, chubby, out of style, and unsophisticated. It's not a happy state of mind. I don't really appreciate the way the media (and Hollywood, for that matter) think they get to decide what is beautiful and what should be accepted as such. And lately, sadly, I have been drawn in and have fallen prey to their destructive points of view. I find myself thinking, "If only I had a body like hers..." or, "I wish I were taller/skinnier/prettier/smarter."

But here's the thing; who are they, the ubiquitous "they", to say what's beautiful, stylish, and worthy of praise? Who's to say that the mom who has stretch marks up the front side and down the back of her body isn't beautiful? How about the woman with the birth mark on her forehead or the large-ish mole on the side of her nose? What about the mama who can't shake the baby weight immediately after the birth of her 4th baby? Or her first baby for that matter?
I think our society is so concerned with materialism that it has lost the ability to see beauty for what it really is. Something that grows on the inside and shines through to the outside.
That same mom with the stretch marks is the mother to 3 scrumptious children, one an adorable little girl with Down's Syndrome who is 4 years old and she has only now just taken her first steps. This mom spends her time patiently loving and growing her babies.
The woman with the birthmark on her forehead is the best friend a person could have. One who listens and loves unconditionally and never passes judgement. She is dedicated, and thoughtful and intelligent. She is teaching the children of tomorrow how to live in today. And not just metaphorically speaking. She is a teacher by profession.
The mama who is having a hard time shaking the baby weight  immediately after the birth of her baby has just given life to another human being. Isn't that remarkable enough?
And the woman with the large, colorless, unique beauty mark on her nose? To her, I would like to say: You do enough. You have enough. You are enough.
Don't let anyone tell you differently.