Why it is O.K. to love yourself.
We live in a society that breathes on the idea of tearing the normal human down.
A society that feeds boys and girls men and women our flaws on a silver platter.
A society where suicide is the third leading killer among teens ages 15-24.
Where more than 90% of girls ages 15-17 want to change an aspect of their body.
Where 12% of teen boys take steroid or unapproved substances.
And 80% of 10 year old girls are already dieting.
So why do we shame people for loving themselves...
Because we think it is selfish.
We think loving our self is pride.
Well I think that is BULL CRAP. And here is why...
The past few months for me have been a series of inner struggles within myself. From hating the way I look, hating my weight, my teeth, my hair, my height, anything and everything about myself I tore apart...
And one day I woke up and decided I do not want that anymore.
I want to love myself. And if people think that is pompous, selfish, or self absorbed- in the words of Taylor Swift, "I'm just gonna shake it." Because it is a crime to hate a body that helps you survive, to hate a smile that makes my parents so happy, a weight that keeps me healthy, if I spent half as much time reminding myself the good, instead of tearing the self perceived bad down, imagine the self positivity that could enhance.
I cheer in college. Sometimes, (which is crazy to me), little girls say they want to be like me. So what kind of message am I sending to them? Because, it is a proven fact that the way mothers see themselves is reflected in how their daughters will view themselves. And, if I sit their complaining about my body- am I sending that message to the little girls who happen to follow me on instagram, facebook or twitter? Am I aiding the statistic of the 90% of girls who want to change an aspect of their body? I am- because, I am that statistic. And, for myself, I needed to change that.
So I started Loving Myself.
I would write little messages to myself reminding myself of who I was, what I have accomplished, and where I was going.
Seriously, Post it Notes- go buy them and put them on mirrors, make up bags, gym bags, your closet door, the refrigerator. Everywhere.
Because, it is not selfish to fall madly in love with who you are.
To be proud of the body you are in.
Be proud of the person you are.
To delight in the flaws that make you- you.
That make you human.
No one is perfect (surprisingly not even Adam Levine) but, that is true beauty.
True beauty is embracing the quirkiness that makes your unprecedentedly yourself.
A smile that's a little crooked because you hated your retainer.
A weight that might not be perfect because, yes, you replaced your cole slaw with fries at zaxbys. SUE ME.
Skin that isn't perfect because sleep was more important than take off your makeup the night before.
Because, believe it or not life is about more than your appearance and the way others view your beauty or self worth.
Beauty is a laugh that fills a room, a humor that brings joy to others, and a heart that sees the good in all things.
Choose to love yourself. And love like crazy. Because, no one will ever love you as much as you can love yourself (well, your parents. You're welcome mom.) Trust me- you are beautiful. Regardless of what the media, celebrities, the scale, the skewed view in the mirror, your ex, anyone says- there is not one other person like you. And that is amazing.
Do not be a statistic.
Be selfish.
"then, she began to breathe, and live, and every moment took her to a place where goodbyes were hard to come by, she was in love, but not with someone, or something, she was in love with her life. and for the first time, in a long time, everything was inspiring."
-R.M. Drake
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