Making pearls

There are two ways to make a pearl.

The first one happens when an oyster gets something irritating up inside its shell. And it rubs and rubs, and eventually it forms hard layers of coating, and out of what was painful and broken and scarring comes something valuable. Priceless.

The second way pearls are made is when people plant a "seed" inside an oyster's shell. A little chunk of mother-of-pearl. Clamshell. Not really pearl, but not really an offensive material, either. And it rubs and rubs. And forms its coating. And then it is harvested and sold.

Both are pearls. And the second is generally prettier than the first.

But I still like the first better.

Beautiful

When you laugh and no one is watching. You are beautiful.
When you are lost in music, dancing. You are beautiful.
When you think hard, all on your own. You are beautiful.
When you care without thinking. You are beautiful.
When you can’t wait. You are beautiful.

When you know you’re a princess. You are beautiful.
When you know you’re the best. You are beautiful.
When you weren’t the one picked to win, but you did. You are beautiful.
When you let yourself shine out. You are beautiful.

When you’re hurt, but you keep swinging. You are beautiful.
When the air tears your lungs, but you keep breathing. You are beautiful.
When you know you’re broken, but you persist. You are beautiful.
When you know you’re beaten, and you cry out. You are beautiful.
When you really listen. You are beautiful.
When peace comes in sleep. You are beautiful.
When you teach me how to be. You are beautiful.

when you're hurt but you keep swinging
when you're down but you start singing
as long as you can pour it out it proves you're full
you're beautiful
you're beautiful
when you are beautiful