You Are A Magnificent Individual.

You are a magnificent individual.

On the point about physical beauty - I've always pictured it like a spectator - a shadow, of sorts - that you, a woman, simply cannot escape. Every move you make, everything you do, accomplish, it cannot be seen without the spectator seeing it too.

I play chess myself, soon to become a scientist - some of the fields you've mentioned - and I was starting to question if I was the mildly maniacal killjoy being too pedantic about why a man - and his qualities - are allowed to be human, the 'natural' state - while a woman, no matter how accomplished, intelligent, proficient she may be - must always be accompanied by beauty. As if everything else she does comes secondary to the inherent requirement of being physically appealing.

Thank you - thank you so much. For your kind words and lovely wishes.

For the first time, I don't just feel seen - I feel heard. And thoroughly understood. Have a splendid time. You are amazing.

Your post on 'stop focusing on physical appearances of women' may just have saved something from withering away within me. I thank you, earnestly.

I'm so glad it got received by at least one person. I know it could - and has been - misinterpreted as a "ruining the fun" comment, but I did notice growing up that what made me insecure the most, were the small focuses we put on artists and famous women: was she a singer, chess player, actress, writer, tennis player, we always cared about her eyeliner and bow shoes or perfect hair.

And I wish for women not to internalize this: it teaches us that we can't really escape physical beauty - not through arts, or sports, or our minds. I am still so jealous of male tennis player, for example, who can, seemingly, just exist in their natural and neutral state.

I hope you have a fantastic day! And I also hope you can develop your talents or passions without the pressure of "being beautiful" all the time c: