What You Are

I heard a friend make a comment the other day that really made me sad for her and myself and all of the women who are constantly bombarded by images of what we "should" be.

Talking to my counselor the other day, she mentioned to me that the word "should" introduced the idea that there is blame. To say "I should have..." puts blame on yourself for things that may have been out of your control.

So with that thought in the back of my mind, I think I reacted a little differently when I heard my friend say "I'm looking at these clothes and realizing they are not the size they should be." To say this implied that she was somehow to blame for her size.

So here's what I want you to know, weather you're a woman or just someone who feels pressured by the "ideal" image:

WHAT YOU ARE IS BEAUTIFUL.
Period. That's it.
You have been perfectly made, perfectly shaped into who you are and you are not at fault.

The magazines and the TV shows, they don't portray women as they are. They will show you 100 bad sides of yourself before they show you one positive thing. They will tell you you're too fat, too skinny, too tan, too pale, too tall, short, or any number of other things.
The truth is that YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.

I'm not saying that I don't struggle with negative thoughts about myself. On the contrary, I've struggled with myself quite a lot. I will admit that some mornings I wake up an I hate what I see in the mirror and I think some of you can relate. But why? Why have I decided that what I see is not good enough to be loved? I have bean fearfully and wonderfully made.

What I want you to know is that you shouldn't be anything but yourself. If you want to work out, awesome! If you want to eat healthier, great! But make those changes because you have decided that you want to. Don't jump on the next fad diet or almost kill yourself exercising because you feel like you should look some certain way.

Please, please don't let your self worth come from what others tell you to be.
And learn to know that you are beautiful, you are exactly how you are supposed to be.
If you have to write it on a sticky note to read daily, or if you have to remind yourself every hour with an inspirational quote, do that, because ultimately, you deserve to love yourself and to make it through each day with your head held high.

Friend of mine, this is for you. I love you and I want you to know that I am here for you always. You inspire me with your kindness and your sweet heart and I want you to be proud and joyful in yourself.