Smiling is one of my favorite things to do

One of my favorite things to do is smile.
If you look, and you don't have to look hard, you'll see that I have a less than "perfect" smile. Due to spacing or gaps, my teeth are considered to be in need of correction.
Growing up, I had quite a few "flaws." This caused me to be bullied and picked on by my peers. I had to grow a thick skin to be able to make it through my childhood and even adult life, surprisingly. How you're treated when you look different from the social norms can be brutally painful.
Now, I'm told that my face is beautiful and that my skin is flawless. I'm told this a lot. Along with my teeth, which is genetic, I was born with weak eye muscles.
So I can sometimes feel as though I'm not beautiful.
It is because of the beauty standards that have been put before you and I our whole lives.
I would cover my smile or not smile at all, as a defense mechanism. Hiding was my way of protecting myself from being picked on or noticed. It led to shyness, isolation and created fears that were unfounded.
After I entered my 20's, I decided that I was beautiful. That my eyes were fine, as long as I could see, and that my smile, just the way it is, will not be covered or changed. Its important to my total well being to be able to smile unapologetically.
I will not hold back who I am for everyone else to be comfortable.
I now understand that who I am IS my beauty standard.
I'm perfectly IM-PERFECT.
Embrace your "flaws" for they are what make you unique and who wants to be just like everyone else? Not me.