I never was the most beautiful

I never was the most beautiful girl at school. Or even the most popular. I never draw attention when I arrived at a party. Neither received letters from secret lovers. I never was the one that all the guys asked to a dance at a party.

Actually, it was just the other way around. I was shy. My cheeks used to get red often. My hair was terrible. I used thick glasses. And as I had good grades at school, people called me geek. So no way I could join any of the popular groups.

I didn´t even know how to talk to guys. Every time I did it, I felt nervous and didn´t know what to say. I was afraid of trying new things. Afraid of doing things on a wrong way. Worried about what the others would think about me.

But something has changed. The Ugly Duckling becomes a swan. The caterpillar becomes a butterfly. It is as simple as that.

Today I´m a girl that travels. By myself. Independently. Someone that hits the road. That does much more than planned. That hitchhikes. Who talks to everyone. That sleeps anywhere. That laughs a lot. That dances. Who has a lot of guy friends. Someone that lives as if there´s no tomorrow.

Despite all the rape cases, I went by myself to India. The Indians stared non stopping at me. I´ve been through embarrassing situations. Many guys grabbed my ass. I was afraid of going out alone at night. But it was the most incredible country of my trip, and I had an unforgettable experience.

I went by myself to Iran, too. Despite all the advices to take care. Even with everybody thinking that all the Iranians are terrorists. And how surprised I was when I found out that they are one of the most friendly people from the World, that hosted me as if I was a member of their family. Even not being a Muslin. Even being a girl. Even traveling by myself.

I realized that we, the girls, are much stronger than we think. We are afraid of traveling by ourselves because we never tried it. We think we´re gonna feel lonely. Lost. An easy target. That we´ll be afraid. That we won´t be able to solve the problems.

Huge mistake. We´re definitely much stronger than we believe. We got the power. We were raised believing that we should be the good girl, the princess. That one that suffers, cries, sits and waits for the prince to arrive, to kiss her and to wake her up for a life of happiness. That one that when is in danger just shouts desperately, waiting for someone to save her. We grow up hearing all this fairy tales and romantic movies, and end up believing that the real life is like that. Another mistake.

Maybe the Prince Charming doesn´t exist.  Actually, he obviously doesn’t exist. So what? Let´s face it and stop suffering because of that. I don´t sit and expect things to happen. I don´t go to parties and keep waiting for someone to ask me to a dance. I don’t wait until a guy comes to talk to me on a pub. I don´t shout when I see a cockroach. I take the initiative on a talking. I ask the guy to a dance. I travel by myself. And I leave the cockroach alone, as it didn´t do anything to me, anyway.

Traveling by yourself may seem crazy, but it´s much more than that. It´s a cry of independence. It´s like a bra-burning. It´s like saying Yes, I can. It means finding out your power. And knowing yourself for real. Taking risks. Making a bunch of new friends. It´s not knowing what is gonna happen on the following day. And on the next. And on the other one. It´s going after your dreams fearlessly. Fragile sex, my ass! Happy International Women´s Day!

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