The theme of the week has been body image... I've actually seen it posted on various social media accounts that I follow, and @thebirdspapaya just did a podcast on it. So, clearly, I'm onto something that's been resonating this week.
Basically the gist of it is this... you can wear whatever the hell you want, whenever the hell you want, and in front of whoever you want SHAME-FREE! Anyone judging you is either a) suffering from their own insecurities or b) a dick, who is hiding from the fact that they suffer from their own insecurities! Do either of these options sound like opinions that you should take to heart? NO. The only one that matters is yours... and if it's one where you are concerned or horrified or EMBARASSED about stretch marks, cellulite, flab, age spots, wrinkles, those little red dots (WHAT ARE THOSE AND WHERE DO THEY COME FROM!?), etc... SHHH! Let's quiet that nag in your head.
There is so much self-damage in this line of thinking, and please know, that NONE of it is your fault. We can change this! We can empower ourselves. We can teach our littles to think differently... because, right now, we live in a society that is BRAINWASHED into thinking that:
1) a woman's worth is based on her appearance
2) a "beach body" is one that is 100% flawless (sidebar: this doesn't fucking exist)
3) other people get to decide what other people can wear and how they should look
Well, guess what? I'm here to tell those ideas in your head can screw right off. You are beautiful, perfect, and STRONG. Do NOT let society's outdated, patriarchal, Hollywood-obsessed, snapchat filtered, and photoshopped version of life tell you otherwise. YOU ARE REAL. Those ideals are not.
I truly believe that most of us are constantly working to be the best versions of ourselves, but remember to LOVE yourself through this journey, whatever it may be. You are the one who got you to where you are today... and the best is still yet to come! TRULY.
Moving forward, with love, in my teeny-weeny, purple polka dot bikini,
xox,
M