Just the Way You Are

So, I have become obsessed....Obsessed with the song, "Just the Way You Are," by Bruno Mars. It is an absolutely stunning song... I heard it for the first time on an episode of Glee where Finn sings to his "now" step-brother, Kurt, at his mom's wedding. Anyways, watching Finn sing this song to his brother whom he has always had difficulty relating to and accepting brought me to tears then. Little did I know that every single time I hear it now, it gives me the exact same reaction. First off, here are the lyrics:

Oh her eyes, her eyes
Make the stars look like they're not shining
Her hair, her hair
Falls perfectly without her trying

She's so beautiful
And I tell her every day

Yeah I know, I know
When I compliment her
She wont believe me
And its so, its so
Sad to think she don't see what I see

But every time she asks me do I look okay
I say

When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
Cause girl you're amazing
Just the way you are

Her nails, her nails
I could kiss them all day if she'd let me
Her laugh, her laugh
She hates but I think its so sexy
She's so beautiful
And I tell her every day

Oh you know, you know, you know
I'd never ask you to change
If perfect is what you're searching for
Then just stay the same

So don't even bother asking
If you look okay
You know I say

When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
Cause girl you're amazing
Just the way you are

The way you are
The way you are
Girl you're amazing
Just the way you are

When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
Cause girl you're amazing
Just the way you are

Now on to what this means to me. If you catch the video, it's obvious that the singer is singing to a girl that he may be in love with. And if you can really sit and imagine a significant other singing this song to you, it's absolutely adorable. We all could only dream of our "soul mates" singing this to us. But I think this song hit me with a totally different meaning. If you caught my last post, you would see that I'm having a very difficult time feeling like I belong anywhere and with anyone in particular. I feel very much like an outsider in a world where I once felt like I belonged. However, as I listen to this song, I can only wish of someone accepting me for who I am now. 'Cause this is the girl I am now. I will forever be this "Alissa." The one without my baby girl on Earth. And I would love for someone to think of me as "amazing." I think the line that gets me the most is the one where the singer states,

"Oh you know, you know, you know

I'd never ask you to change

If perfect is what you're searching for

Then just stay the same"

I know how hard we all work to try and get back to the lives we knew before. We often even ache to change into the person we were before. But in some ways, we all know it's just about impossible. So, we have to learn to accept who we are now. And only hope that the people in our lives that we love will find us "perfect" and "never ask us to change." And maybe they will....maybe they won't. But someone will. I know that. I do have people in my life who do accept me.... I may often feel like I don't belong with them as much as I used to, but that's okay. They still love and support me for who I am. And that's truly very important to me. I need to feel supported. I need to feel loved. As this journey continues, I realize that without those two things, I couldn't go on as the "Alissa" I am today. This is my "new normal." And I'm finding ways to be okay with this girl. I really am.

To end this post, I just want each and every one of you to know that I find you all amazing....beautiful....and perfect....just the way you are. Thank you for your support and love. Always.