Body positivity night makes me cry because I know all too well what it’s like to feel like your outside doesn’t match who you are on the inside. Since I was a little girl, seriously as early as I can remember I have been severely insecure of myself and especially my body. I was always heavier than other kids in school and it didn’t help that i had family that belittled me emotionally for my introverted and reserved personality while they have no idea about the depression I spent 8+ years of my life battling. My self consciousness about my appearance came from a very low self esteem about everything else about myself. Looking back on old pictures it makes me sad to know how much that girl hated herself and felt so disgusting when she was just a normal kid. I let myself stay stuck in that pit of self hatred for so long. When I was at my lowest, I found my faith and it became real to me and things changed. I began to see myself as being of much greater value than I believed and what others had made me believe. My hope was restored and my mind was renewed. Though I still have days where I struggle and wish I had a different story, I continue to believe I have the strength to be more than the world’s standard of beauty. More than a pretty face or sexy figure. There are too many things to love about me to be held back, and let my confidence and bravery depend on a jean size. I am creative. I am generous. I am empathetic. I am capable. I am loving. I am passionate. I am A GOOD TIME. I have thoughts and skills and encouragement to share with people that are much more important than being a pleasing thing for anyone to look at. Our stories may be different, but I want each and every person to know that they are absolutely, undeniably BEAUTIFUL and it has not a single thing to do with what you look like in pictures. You are created for amazing things. Let’s try our best to appreciate our bodies for everything they allow us to do. But let’s not let them be our focus. Our bodies are temporary and ever-changing. There are an abundance of experiences to be had and things to see and people to meet that will impact us much more than an ideal reflection in the mirror. 💓💓💓✨✨
