I always thought I was unattractive. Seeing a photo from 49 years ago changed how I view myself.

The author recently saw a picture of herself from almost 50 years ago, and it changed how she viewed herself.

Courtesy of Amy Abbott An old friend shared a picture of me as a bridesmaid nearly half a century ago.

I was shocked and uncertain that it was me.

As a younger person, and especially in my teens, I had no self-confidence.

In the photo, I saw a beautiful young girl.

Earlier this summer, an old high school friend and her husband, whom I hadn't seen for 40 years, stopped by on their way from northern Indiana to their home in Atlanta .

I was a bridesmaid in their wedding 49 years ago.

During our visit, my friend shared a picture of me at 20, in a light-blue gown, proceeding into their wedding ceremony at our hometown's United Methodist Church.

A lightning strike could not have affected me more than seeing that old picture.

Growing up, I always compared myself to others I met my friend and her younger sister while we worked at the local drive-in , a staple of 1970s Indiana.

As carhops, we wore silver coin changers and placed yellow metal trays filled with burgers and glass mugs of root beer on customers' front car windows.

Both girls were fit, pretty, blonde cheerleaders.

I had been slightly overweight since my early teens, and working at the drive-in with its free ice cream didn't help.

My jet-black hair didn't seem to match my pale ivory skin, which burned in the sun after just a few minutes of exposure.