Today, I just wanted to talk about body shaming. The pressure of having to look a certain way and the stress we put on ourselves to appear a certain way.
Everybody has insecurities. That’s a fact. Who are we to judge the journey of others ? Who do we think we are to impose our opinion about something that we know would be hurtful on somebody else ? What kind of right do we think we have to tell somebody what they should look like ?
Like all human beings, I have insecurities. I used to look a certain way and people tend to ask me upfront why my body changed so much after puberty. It got me thinking.
As I learn to love myself for who I am, and even though I do want to grow and evolve, I own my body. It’s mine and it’s beautiful in it’s own way.
Like everybody else’s.
As we go through life, age and experiences, our body changes, looks and feels different. Stress, problems, fears… It affects our body, whom then presents itself differently to the world. But it’s also a testament of our story. As we shouldn’t be ashamed of our curves or lack of, we should learn to love the body that we have and heal our brain and soul first. You know what memories I am referring to.
There are days where I walk on the streets and surprise myself of my reflection in a mirror or a window display and I hate myself. I hate what I look like. I remember the tease, the bad words, the photos of what the ideal image trending at the moment is and I simply am disgusted by myself. I just want to cover myself entirely and become invisible.
But I remember and realize, there is no shame in surviving life. Each time we fall and each time we get back up. That’s a victory. Our body is proof that we made it another day. It tells the story we have been through. It shows that we endured and suffered but yet, we are still standing up. We are alive and well. We fell and got back up. We are breathing and just a little bit stronger than yesterday.
And even if I am still working on my body issues, I find that the moments I accept myself, my body, the image I present at the moment ; once I accept being my true self and be fine with it, be confident and love myself, I attract positive people that make me grow.
As in fashion, in arts or in media, we go through cycles of “tendances”, now is the time where we enlighten a new area : confidence is beautiful. No matter your size, no matter your curves or lack of, you are a woman. You are bold, you are fierce, you are powerful and you are beautiful in any and every aspect of your life. You are a woman. And for that only, I will love you and find you beautiful inside and out.
We are so inclined to listen to the negative messages, the insults, the shame that we tend to not hear the love, the admiration, the compliments when it’s generously offered to us.
So for all the pain that you might feel, I wish you could hear this.
I love you for what you represent. Whoever you are, no matter your age, your color, your background. You’re a woman. And you are the most precious thing on this earth. You are smart, beautiful and funny. You are loving, kind and generous. You are sexy, attractive and gorgeous. You are caring, loving and protective. You are deeper than your looks, more than a voice and prettier than you think you are.
For just a minute, look at yourself through my eyes, through the ones that love you for who you truly are. See how we love what you call imperfections, understand why we love you and feel all this love toward you. Focus on this.
Then look at your life and appreciate how much beautiful it is.
Find the light.
Look at the love.
There’s someone in this world that will love every little part of you. And it should be You. The rest will follow.
Travel Life With Vân 