Look at Yourself in the Mirror

Most Asian girls do not have double eyelids, and thus are often plagued with eyes that are smaller than those of the girls of other ethnicities. Hence, one of the most popular plastic surgeries for them is the double-eyelid surgery. For girls in their twenties in Korea, getting this surgery is so common that it is almost like getting braces. This obsession over becoming prettier to the point of taking a knife to your eyes has always seemed pathetic to me. However, when my friend consulted me about getting double-eyelid surgery, I realized how close at hand I was to people who worry about this “flaw” in beauty.

When I asked my friend why she wanted this surgery, she sheepishly said, “because I think people look prettier with double eyelids.” As expected, the reason was to be attractive, hoping that better looks might change how people look at her and how she sees herself. Now, my friend does not have small eyes at all. Frankly, she wants double eyelids because she has the Asians’ common misconception that double eyelids equal beauty. And consequently, many women think that beauty can also bring satisfaction with one’s life.

I agree that beauty definitely gives advantages. More men will be interested in you, you might have a greater likelihood of getting employed, and you can be other girls’ object of envy. But why do people resort to beauty in order to find satisfaction with themselves? Why do they think that changing how others look at them is the only way to feel content?

People try to fill the void in their lives with beauty, thinking that looking gorgeous will make them feel loved or make them love themselves more. When people do not find something substantial that makes them happy, they start to depend on the tangible appearance of themselves that they can see in the mirror. I would also love to be more beautiful, but beauty is not my priority. I have found a life philosophy and passion that makes me content with who I am and with how I live and feel. In other words, I love the things I think about, the things I see and hear, and the way I perceive and deal with the happenings in my life. I find satisfaction in my personal sensations of the world, and not with what I see in the looking glass.

My friend filled me with pity when she told me about her dilemma with plastic surgery. No matter how simple double-eyelid surgery is, I hope that she can find her own life philosophy that keeps her happy no matter where she is or how she looks. I hope that all the girls in the world realize that their lives are theirs to create and enjoy. Having bigger eyes or fuller breasts cannot fill the emptiness in your life; if you could find a personally satisfying way of life, you probably would care less about being prettier than the girl next to you.