vanity

It took me a long time (and a straight-shooting English bloke) to see that vanity is a real vice. I used to think that being “vain” was when you loved your looks and spent hours in front of a mirror. Obviously I couldn’t be vain because—well, I’m so often down on my looks!

But really, who spends hours in front of a mirror when they love their looks? I know that when I’m feeling happy with my body, I forget about the mirror and go and have fun with friends. I spend hours in front of the mirror when I feel worst about myself.

For me, vanity is what happens when I give way to self-deprecation.

So I believe that the opposite of vanity is freedom— freedom from worry about oneself and one’s appearance— the freedom to love myself, to love my own beauty, without anxiety.

After all, we are gorgeous!