America Reminds You That You're Homely Wherever You Are

Not a “10” in the US? Then not a 10 overseas. Beware of being lured into buying expensive drinks or worse — being robbed. #springbreakingbadly

— Travel — State Dept (@TravelGov) March 30, 2016

I mean, look, I’m not stupid. I’ve got a mirror. I go outdoors. I went to high school. I know I’m not a movie star. I can tell when people turn away because they think there’s something off about my face. I hear the laughs. You get used to it, after a while. It doesn’t ever stop hurting, not really, but you learn to not be surprised. You don’t get to be my age without realizing how other people see you. And like I said, it never feels good, but if you remind yourself to be accepting of who you are and you work on the qualities you can control, you can make yourself into someone who other people won’t recoil from, someone whose inner light shines bright enough that at least a few other people will see it. You make do with what you have and you try to be happy with the person you’ve become. And then one day, out of nowhere, your own government reminds you that not only are you no beauty but that the only reason anyone would ever want to buy you a drink is to rob you, or worse. And then all you want to do is cry. Fuck you, State Department. Now I’m voting Trump for sure.