Staring at myself in the mirror I’m lucky to love what I see. Ever since I was a little girl I had never had a problem with my body as so many other young girls do. My body is my body, and I love it. That’s how it always has been and always will be. My body may not look like the girls on billboards and magazines but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. My body has done so many amazing things for me. It has allowed me to compete in sports all my life, to travel all across the world, and even to do life’s simplest tasks that we all take for granted like giving a friend a hug. The way I see it, if you treat your body right, exercise it, feed it healthy foods, give it plenty of water, sunshine, and love, it doesn’t matter if your thighs touch. To me a healthy body is the most beautiful body there is, no matter what shape or size it may come in. It’s about treating it well and practicing self-love that are the keys to the “perfect” body.
The stereotypical perfect image of thighs that don’t touch and a stomach that wouldn’t roll even when you sit that’s portrayed by the media never had a negative impact on me growing up. I know I hold an increasingly rare perspective. With so much media, images, and pop culture that promotes only skinny girls with smooth skin and flowing hair as being beautiful, it’s no wonder so many young girls are starving themselves, spending countless amounts of money to change how they look, and ultimately hating their reflection regardless. There is no point in wasting energy towards hating what you look like when that energy could go towards something much more productive and positive. In this age of the self-loathing culture, I think it a beautiful act of rebellion to love the way you look.Your body is yours and only yours. It will carry you through every moment of this incredible life. Embrace your body, do a happy dance in the mirror, and give some love to the reflection that is you.
xoxo ~Bella