As women, we are trained by our mothers, our friends, media, magazines, and society to hate our bodies. Every womens magazine includes at least one – or two dozen – articles about hiding our thighs, dressing to attract a mate, or the latest bun-buster exercise. Now, I’m all for self-improvement and not letting your muffin top hang out, but it troubles me that women are so truly obsessed with hiding, enhancing, and changing their bodies. If we don’t spend hours in front of the mirrors with our girlfriends verbally tearing our bodies to shreds, we are classified as conceited. If we receive a compliment on our personal appearance, it is not customary to answer with a simple, gracious “thank you”; instead, we must contradict the compliment giver with an apologetic “Oh my God, yeah right, are you kidding me?” We spend our lives, and money, spraying ourselves with chemicals, dying our hair, and trying to slim various parts of our bodies all with the intent of changing and improving our existing selves.
I’d like to introduce a new sentiment, one that holds true in my own life: I LOVE MY BODY. Call me a narcissist, or call me crazy, but I have killer self-confidence and killer legs to match. I hear my absolutely beautiful girlfriends call themselves, in complete earnestness, fat, ugly, lumpy, too skinny, poorly proportioned (the list goes on) and while it breaks my heart, I thank God I am lucky to have been raised to love myself. I have never once stood in front of a mirror wishing my boobs to be bigger, my butt to be smaller, or my stomach to be flatter. I even feel comfortable admitting I am quite enamoured with certain parts of my body. I’m completely obsessed with my perfect and round little butt topping off two shapely legs. I adore my small chest, and am terribly grateful that I can wear whatever I like without a bra. People have mocked me for the gap between my teeth – well, guess what. I love it. As a young girl, my dentist gave me the option of getting braces to “fix” it, and I said “Hell no!” It’s the imperfections that make us beautifully interesting because perfect people are boring.
So next time you’re in front of a mirror, and feel tempted to complain about your fat knees, why don’t you try something different? Stare at yourself until you find something you love. Next time someone compliments you, smile and say “Thanks, I know!” Instead of putting on three pounds of foundation every morning, let your skin breathe and flaunt your natural glow. Wear sweatpants to a bar (or whatever else you’re 100% comfortable wearing). Put on a high waisted pencil skirt and show off your female curves. Above all, just love yourself. Do what you do for yourself, not to impress whatever sex you’re into, or because Cosmo tells you to do it.
Comments
It’s a shame more, ar even all women aren’t raised with such a healthy self-image!
Agreed! Confidence really shows too. I firmly believe that if we all accept and believe in our own beauty (“love ourselves”), that we will be perceived as “beautiful” too!
Liiiiivvvvv…I love you.
Says the girl with the perfect body. But really, I agree. I wish more magazines would feature articles to help improve self-esteem. Or at least give realistic advise about self-improvement if you think you need help. It would be so much healthier if women could learn to dress according to their body type.
Hell yeah girl! I completely agree, my roommate who is gorgeous and tiny is always complaining about her big thighs and small boobs. I think she’s lovely. Me personally, while I admit to having an off day, I generally know and am happy to inform people that I am one hot piece of ass and proud of it. Also, I think the gap in your teeth is absolutely lovely.
Damn Liv!