Birthday Suit

If you removed all the things that masked you, what would you be left with? Your body, your thoughts and your opinions. And if you look at that person, how do you feel? If that person resembles you, then you are lucky, honest and open. The people that surround you see your purest form, where you flaunt your naturally beautiful form. But what happens when this uncovered person is nothing like you? Have you become fake, or afraid of revealing yourself?

I would like to think that I would be in the first category, my closest friends and strangers view me in the same way as I see myself. However, I know very well that there are several prejudices against me by various people. I have come to a point where I have gotten tired of caring. Guiding people to see you truthfully is painstakingly slow, especially if they have a rigid mindset. I try my best to make myself have a positive attitude to everyone but if the other person is not even trying to accept you, why should you waste your energy on them?

Confidence is key, those that have two faces do not possess it, their truth is too shameful for them to display it. It’s a rare quality that is either there from birth or built up over several  failures. Honestly, I cannot stand two faced people, the fact that I know they are different to what they show frustrates and annoys me. A fine balance remains, overconfidence wards off people, as they grow annoyed of the vanity that they have. Though, lack of confidence is limiting and prevents people from pursuing their dreams. 

My confidence has been prominent throughout my life due to the fact that my birthday suit is quite unique. Everyday, my skin changes, never the same as before or tomorrow, it might discolour in one place and colour in another. This is because I have vitiligo, a rare autoimmune disease that affects the pigment in skin. I have been through everything, awkward conversations, strangers staring and many many prejudiced opinions. 1% of the population have it, making it relatively common but the number of children having is much lower. This means I am one of lucky few to have struggled with vitiligo through my life.  

I don’t say the word lucky sarcastically but genuinely which makes me sound like a crazy person. If I compare myself to other people, I see a higher level of maturity and acceptance in myself that is lower in the majority of my friends. My experiences  have moulded me into the best version of myself possible.  The reason I succeed at most things is not really because I am intelligent but because I have the self-confidence to believe that it is true. It might make me sound like egotistical preacher but I honestly believe that it is the truth.

My birthday suit had shaped my life in numerous ways, now I have come to a point where I have accepted it and cherished it. Cherishing yourself is vital because if you do then you are highly likely to be successful. Caring is important but sometimes you have to stop caring to allow yourself to be free. The most important thing is that the person you show is the same person that you are. Being this way is guaranteed to make your life amazing, so go ahead and enjoy yourself.