Do I really?

Do you ever look at pictures of yourself and think "Wow... do I really look like that?" Or better yet, look at video of you and think the same question? There is a brief video clip of me on Cable 12 news. I was interviewed for the 45th Annual Robbinsdale Pet and Wheel parade that happened last Thursday in Robbinsdale. It was short 10 second chip but for those 10 seconds, it was extremely painful for me to watch. I watched the clip over and over again and picked myself apart.I kept thinking "My hair looks like a rats nest, my eyes are too squinty, my cheeks look too chubby, my voice is shaky... the list goes on. Why am I so hard on myself? Why is it hard for me to look at a picture of myself and see myself for who I am and not be so focused and obsessed with what I'm not? It might be time to put down the InStyles and reading People.com and comparing myself to what our society defines as "Beauty" and start focusing on all of the wonderful qualities I posses that truly make me a beautiful person.