I was sitting in my bunk one day and this random thought came into my mind. Is looks everything? Interestingly, when reading today’s paper (Straits Times), it had a ‘talkback’ column in Stomp which had the same topic. Haha. How coincidental right?

I’m not saying I was never a vain pot. Of course, looks did bother to me. I was always extra cautious on how I look. I used to think that I am handsome (even now I do). I know that I’m not the most handsome one out there and that there are people who far better looking than me. That didn’t bother me lah – as in I was never jealous of that. I used to think that by being at my best – in terms of dressing and looks, more people would ‘like’ me.

Somewhere during my mid-teenage, about two to three years ago, I couldn’t be bothered about looks anymore. I was very rigid in the way I looked. For instance, my hairstyle. I was very sure that I will never change it and I would always want to look the way I am. I decided that looking presentable was enough.

Last year, I decided to have a different look. That’s how the guy in the blog photo (above) came about. This change wasn’t because I wanted to fit in or so. But it was just that I thought that as long as I feel comfortable with the way I am, I can carry myself better within the society.

And now, the question is – does looks really matter? THINK!!!

Is it hard for someone who is ‘ugly’ to survive in today’s world? Firstly, how do you define someone as ugly? Haha. I mean, being handsome, hot, cute – all these have their own definitions. But being ugly??? Is it just when someone doesn’t like the way one looks or dresses?

Imagine someone who is like the most handsome person you know. One day, unfortunately, he meets with a terrible accident. That bad accident disfigures his face badly that he no longer has the ‘good’ looks. (I know this sounds a little too far fetched). Does his looks matter now?

Yes, only if he is some model or some air steward. Other than that, does he being ‘ugly’ have any impact on how he survives in the society?

Some careers requires the beauty factor like being an air steward, model, front desk receptionist… But is beauty the only required factor?

Like the saying goes – “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. (Not BEER-holder). Basically, I feel that as long as you are comfortable with the way you are – in dressing and the way you look, you can carry yourself better. Confidence will just come by itself when you are comfortable with who you are. Why bother about what people think about you? When you know that you are happy looking this way, then the comment of others can never bring you down. Only when you start doubting whether you really look good and become too self-conscious, then the comment by others will sure pull your confidence down.

Being yourself is the best way to look good.

Beauty comes from inside. Not from the outside. Yes. People may look gorgeous but filled with a filthy mind, thoughts and words. Is that beauty??? Imagine a model. Yes, she’s pretty, that’s why she is a model. You meet that gorgeous model one day in public and being her ardent fan, you smile and wave at her. How does she react? She just walks away, pretending like she never saw you. Beauty at its worst? Or imagine, you see that you strike a conversation with that hot model and she goes “FO dude”. Would her beauty still be what you go for?

Character. Personality. Charisma. Actions. Thoughts. Love.  ¶ 12:33 PM