Acceptance
When I was younger, these dolls were banned from my house. My dad was afraid that I would develop an eating disorder and body issues. I mean, look at them…they are perfect. Each one has long, glossy hair, perfect boobs, a tiny waist, curvy hips with a tight butt and incredibly slender legs. Who wouldn’t be jealous of their bodies, even if they are practically impossible to attain and simply unreal?
So instead I played with…
And who knows if it was the absence of a perfect standard to live up to (Thank you, Dad, for your incredible foresight.) or just by sheer luck, but I have come through life with an amazing amount of self-confidence.
Don’t get me wrong…there have definitely been times that I wasn’t too happy with my body. When an 8th grader wakes up one morning and all of a sudden has birthing hips and is forced to shop in the women’s section, where her only options are pleated pants, life isn’t too optimistic.
But I have grown and changed and thankfully there are A LOT more clothing options for curvy women. It makes me so sad to hear women, especially my friends, say cruel things about themselves. Especially since these things are grossly untrue. My friends are GORGEOUS! But they complain about their boobs being too small/butts too big/cellulite/arms too flabby/no jawline/torso too short or too long/legs too short, etc.
Let’s put a stop to this. Let’s celebrate who we are and what we like about ourselves. I encourage you to write down three things (or more) that you like about your body. For me, I wrote:
1. I like my strong, runner calves.
2. I love my hair.
3. I love my freckles.
Force yourself to see the positive and hopefully this will change our views on ourselves. Because, let’s face it, none of us are Barbie, but we are ALL beautiful in our own special ways. 🙂
The Girl With The Smile 