The ugly duckling has turned into a beautiful swan
By lotet81
@lotet81 (9)
Philippines
December 5, 2009 6:44pm CST
Did you ever feel alone? Did you ever think life was unfair? Did you ever wish you hadn't existed?
I did. I used to think I was a very 'ugly duckling'. I was very thin and weakling. People at school made think I was. No one wanted to befriend me. I usually had lunch alone at school. Whenever there were activities at school, I just stayed in a corner and watched them perform or play because no one wanted me to be in their group. There was one thing I was a bit proud of, though. My brain. Academically, I was competent. But I didn't think of it as an edge. I usually got good grades but sometimes got low marks in other areas because I often passed projects late or sometimes, not hand in at all. My parents said they could only pay for the tuition. So, it made me feel more insecure. I did what I had to do just to keep my grades and not eventually, fail. I offered help to rich, snobbish classmates, who didn't want to waste their time on craps, and asked for a little donation in return to make mine. But, I usually handed in projects late. I had to finish theirs first. Well, it was fine with me. I didn't care obtaining scholastic awards. I thought, my parents weren't that interested of my achievements, anyway.
I was in college when I began to acknowledge the gifts I have. I used my brain. I worked and studied all the way. I earned a degree in college. I didn't graduate with flying colors, though. At least, I did my best. The people I used to work with in college helped me realized the beauty in me. They were great people. They saw me in a different perspective. They made me ask myself, "Why pity yourself when you have a lot of things to show? A lot of people believed in you." That woke me up. Now, I am a successful career woman, mother and wife. I am married to a very gorgeous man who thinks of me as the woman of his dream and are blessed with a beautiful angel.
I'm no longer bitter. Life isn't unfair at all. Just nurture what you have and be grateful. There is always something beautiful in you.
1 person likes this
7 responses
@Apple3Cranberry (678)
• United States
6 Dec 09
Well I am glad that you are successful. I am also glad that your wishes are fulfilled. How can you not be bitter though? Life is filled with bitter moments! Bitterness and awful things are a part of life, this is what I think. I think this is a part of what makes the portrait, the colors as well. The beautiful in me is not the beautiful in you, and may not even be recognizable. You see, life is well. We are well. But so are other things, such as even smarter people. And smarter, and less smarter. And then you can look at it in a different way, another angle. Then there's the free thinking, and the less free thinking, and the more. Then there's the happy, and the more, and the less. And the crazy. I think life is full of different people. And I am just adding this to your story. I guess I have a perspective on life as well and feel a bit jealous when somebody shares their story and I don't get to share mine. I wonder why this is. This isn't even loving or adequate as I would think, but it is adequate because it is what I can do. I believe there are kinder people. I am a kind person, but I have also had realizations. Psychic things that maybe even others don't care about. I keep thinking this way because it is me. And good is with bad. But oh it is good, huh. There is always something beautiful in you.
@lotet81 (9)
• Philippines
6 Dec 09
You know Miss Apple, I used to be bitter like you. I used to think life was just nothing but craps. Huh, really I did. But then I had my realizations, too. If I keep on thinking bitterly, nothing will happen to me but bitterness. But if we learn to be happy and contented, things will just fall into places. I didn't say my life is perfect now. Of course, now that I'm married things get more complicated. But inspite of everything, as the cliche says, 'Life has to go on'. You can be happy if you want to. Don't think too much. You can never be happy if you over do it. Think simply.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
12 Dec 09
hi lotet81 wow you learned how wonderful you really were
and thats just great. You inspire me to look for more
things that I really have and not be so unhappy about
what I do not. its been a tough year for me aS my son and
I went through the trauma of his losing his job, us being
evicted and now both have roofs over our heads but have to
live separately until my son finds a job,scary as its been a year without finding a job. I have felt really sad as I did not ever
'dream of being in a retirement center e ven if I am 83, i am fully capable of living in an apartment and waiting on my self and cooking and all the rest but we need money for all that. my social security and SSI checks cover the rent and food for each month with some money over for my personal needs but I have never really felt this is my home. but it is safe and secure here. I am glad you finally realized how much you really had going for you and now you have a great man and from the sounds of it a child too.good for you. God Bless.
@sweetyethot (1737)
• China
6 Dec 09
Your story is truly very encouraging.I decide to be just myself and cherich whatever I have.There's no point pitying myself being not beautiful and rich.Im just myself and there's no else in the world like me.
@MrKennedy (1978)
•
6 Dec 09
Holy hell, certain parts of this post sound exactly like me. Or, at least they did during my adolescent years.
In my turbulent teenage years, I always viewed myself as the ugly duckling. Each day I would groggily wake up and glare at myself in disgust at my hideous reflection in the mirror. Similar to you lotet81, I was very thin and very weak. No matter how much I seemed to shovel the food into my mouth, it was practically impossible for me to gain weight, and therefore was trappec inside a pathetically fragile frame. Combining this with the fact that I was relatively short for my age (5ft4 at 16, so the majority of my year and even the years below me towered over me), I got pushed around and brushed aside a fair bit. I felt incredibly ashamed that not only was I being belittled by people in my own year, yet students in the years below me also managed to make me look small and weak.
I would dread participating in any sporting activities because, having no sporting skills or talent, I would always be one of the last people to get picked for a team. Now, this doesn't seem like a big deal any more because I have grown up, yet at the time this was the most embarassing experience I had to endure.
Thankfully, things changed when I joinec college. Instead of dwelling on the past, I moved on with my life. I started excercising my body for a better physique, I changed my image from the old, stale one I had stuck with for years. And, after years of being ignored and generally not cared for, people from my school started approaching me and trying to be friendly. This may make me sound like an extreme d**k, but I simply brushed THEM aside and ignored THEM for all the years they had treated me like excrement. I mean, why should I have pretended to like a bunch of people that had made my school life a misery.
In college, I finally "discovered" myself, and found a wonderful group of friends who accepted me with open arms, and respected me for who I was. This helped me respect myself, and focus on my many skills and positive traits, instead of being over-shadowed by the things that wasn't particularly good about me.
I'm glad you managed to finally find happiness in your life OP. Everybody deserves to live a life full of joy and without being made to feel like c**p by others.
I would dread participating in any sporting activities because, having no sporting skills or talent, I would always be one of the last people to get picked for a team. Now, this doesn't seem like a big deal any more because I have grown up, yet at the time this was the most embarassing experience I had to endure.
Thankfully, things changed when I joinec college. Instead of dwelling on the past, I moved on with my life. I started excercising my body for a better physique, I changed my image from the old, stale one I had stuck with for years. And, after years of being ignored and generally not cared for, people from my school started approaching me and trying to be friendly. This may make me sound like an extreme d**k, but I simply brushed THEM aside and ignored THEM for all the years they had treated me like excrement. I mean, why should I have pretended to like a bunch of people that had made my school life a misery.
In college, I finally "discovered" myself, and found a wonderful group of friends who accepted me with open arms, and respected me for who I was. This helped me respect myself, and focus on my many skills and positive traits, instead of being over-shadowed by the things that wasn't particularly good about me.
I'm glad you managed to finally find happiness in your life OP. Everybody deserves to live a life full of joy and without being made to feel like c**p by others.
@bubblicious0 (87)
• United States
6 Dec 09
I had that kind of feeling when I was in middle school. I felt like I was stupid. And my the people I called " friends" aren't really my friends they alwayed talk behind my back etc... Until I met Kate who changed my life. She was actually my friend and she is very smart. She always support me and teach me. Now, I feel more happier about my life.
@beabenitez (153)
• Philippines
11 Dec 09
yeah life is not unfair...what we are undergoing through, is only trials of life which is good for us to be a better person...even gold undergone so much pressure before it can be called a gold... that is what i mean....to be a better person u should go to so much trials in life....
@my_name_is_coco (4333)
• Philippines
6 Dec 09
I know the feeling.I myself am not what men can categorize as pretty girl.I don't have regular dates.I don't have men drooling over me or falling at my fight.that is totally alright with me.I am happy with myself.while I dreamed I get swept off my feet with a rich,gorgeous guy,I open my eyes that it may not be possible as rich men go after trophy girls.I accepted who I really am and appreciated the fact that I am a good daughter and friend.
