Objectively speaking I was a funny looking kid. My jaw was mishapen, instead of my palate being rounded it was triangular like a bird's beak. They eventually broke the bone and I wore a special retrainer for several years to reshape my palate into a more normal shape. My nose was also really crooked from having been broken in an accident when I was a baby. Looking back on it, I'm surprised I didn't get teased more on it than I did. I had a nose job when I was 16 to straighten my nose.

I still remember two remarks from when I was a kid. When I was really young, like maybe around 9, because it was before my Mom got sick we were visisting friends of my parents, and one of them commented that it was a good thing I was smart, since I could always be a librarian since I definitely wasn't going anywhere on my looks. All the other adults, including my parents agreed.

Then when I was about 17, my Dad and I went to a family wedding. It had been a few years since I'd seen the relatives, and when I walked in, the first thing one of my aunts exclaimed was "Thank God they finally fixed your face."

So needless to say, I've grown up with some self-image issues.

Well yesterday, I had a job interview right after day hospital, and I didn't have time to go home and change, so I had to dress for the interview in the morning. I do know how to dress well, so I was wearing a nice suit in a colour that's good on me, nice understated jewellery, and makeup. I've only started wearing make up in the last 8 months and don't like it, so I tend not to wear it unless I have to. Anyway I new I looked "better" than normal.

What surprised me was the number of people who went out of their way to tell me how great I looked. One woman even said I looked beautiful. While I've come a long enough way to accept compliments as genuine, they still feel weird, like they're talking about someone other than me - it's like I still can't believe that anyone would think I was good looking.

Does anyone else have / had trouble accepting compliments on how you look. Any suggestions on getting over it.

Thanks.

splitimage