Ask yourself this question – what do you love about your appearance?
Now, ask yourself – what do you hate about your appearance?
Which one was easier to answer? Sadly, the “hate” question will probably win that challenge.
I believe that the media, especially fashion magazines and their advertisers, has perpetuated society’s skewed standards of attractiveness. I also believe that as a mother of a young daughter, it is my job to make sure that she realizes she is beautiful just the way she is, regardless of what the mainstream media is telling her.
It is my duty to teach her that clothing size, like age, is only a number.
I believe that having a healthy body is a better goal than fitting into skinny jeans. To that end, eating more fresh fruits and vegetables and taking the stairs pays off better in the long run than skipping breakfast and starving yourself.
I also believe that if I want to have some chocolate, I can occasionally indulge without feeling guilty.
It is also my duty to remember these lessons myself, so I can lead by example.
So, today I challenge you to love yourself the way you are. If you feel that you need to improve something about yourself, do it for YOU. We are our own harshest critics, and chances are that you are more beautiful than you realize, because no one notices your flaws but you.
Kim is the Fashion and Beauty Editor for Girls Guide. You can check out her personal blog, Parachuting Without A Net, where she talks about just about everything under the sun from being a Mom to whipping up quick dinners. You can contact Kim by Emailing her – kim [at] girlsguidetothegalaxy [dot] com, and you can follow her on Twitter – @parachuting.
Thank you! I think we all need to be reminded of this. Well said!
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VERY WELL SAID! Thanks for the reminder!
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Not to toot the ole sports horn, but… I strongly believe that playing sports helped me attain a good body image from a very young age. I was never a skinny minnie, but I was always healthy and in good shape. I spent very little time fretting over my body (except for the fact that I wasn’t 6’0 tall like my Mom) because even though I wasn’t a size 4 or whatever, I felt great and could kick some major butt.
I also credit my Mom for never complaining about her own physical “flaws” (who am I joking, she has none, I hope I age as well as her!) or pointing out any of my own. I rarely heard, “Oh my gosh, you are soooo cute!” from her, which I think worked to my advantage because I didn’t base my self worth on my appearance.
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