Self-Love

What do you have to lose by loving yourself anyway?

Think about that for a sec.

Looking at a photo and the first thing you notice is how you look in it rather than the memory behind it?

Time spent in front of the mirror twisting and turning and feeling completely unsatisfied with various parts of you?

A bed piled with changes of clothes because you can’t find something that you think you look attractive in?

The horror.

The modern world wants you to apologize for taking up space. Tell the modern world to stuff it, okay?  Take that second piece of cake if you want it. Your body is smart. It knows what you crave, it knows how much of it. Your body has a set point. Every body is different. It isn’t bad because it’s different from hers, because you weren’t born tall and slender, but instead with curves and hips. Because you were born petite instead of having curves that she has. Comparison is the thief of joy. The most radical thing you can do for yourself, for the bettering of your life is to love yourself, not just the way you are–but the healthiest version of yourself that you can be. If your body sets at a place you don’t like, so be it! Love it. It works hard for you. Don’t be skinny, be healthy, be strong. Go to college, study hard,  do sports,  take risks, and make friends. Live. It’s so much easier with a body that’s happy with itself and when you’re happy with your body.

What do you have to lose?

I genuinely worry about you when you say that you’re unhappy with yourself. Because I love you. I love the way you look, but not because of the way you look. You are smart, you are fun, and beautiful in every bit of you. I’d tell you you look beautiful ever  off as weird. It’s hard, I know it’s hard. Trust me on that one. But if you change yourself, what is the guarantee that you’ll be happy when you get there?  There isn’t one. Got it?

Plus, I just love you the way you are, I worry about you, and I don’t know how to say it. Read this, don’t read this, it’s out there and I said it.

Loving yourself is hard, maybe the hardest thing you’ll ever do. But worth it. So, so worth it.