This guest post is from my forever (IRL: in real life) friend Katie. She is so amazing and is getting ready to start a new part of her life. I am SO excited for her. Make sure to stop by her blog, Ordinary Girl, Extraordinary Journey and say hi to her!
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Imagine a scenario with me if you will. It’s the approaching the second weekend of June. You’ve already missed two prime swimming/sunning/socializing weekends. You’ve got to break down and do it; you’ve got to buy a bathing suit. You’re in a department store dressing room. You pull on the bottoms, struggle into the top, push your hair out of your face, fan yourself a little (Does it really *have* to be this hot in here??), take a deep breath and look back to take in your appearance. What is your response?
“Ugh, I hate my…..”
a. Fat thighs
b. Chubby stomach
c. Pasty white skin
d. Long neck
e. All of the above
That first negative thought about your appearance gives way to another and then another. And then you’re attacking your personality, your social skills, whatever. Two minutes in you’re ready to rip off that bathing suit, throw on sweats and spend the weekend, not letting that little social butterfly inside of you come out but rather, on the couch with ice cream, watching that episode of Friends that you’ve already seen 178 times.
Why do we do this to ourselves? Why is it that women as a whole often find it easier to say something negative about ourselves than to say something positive? Are we really that bad? Do we not have any redeeming qualities or characteristics? Let me tell you something:
You are beautiful. Yes, you. Especially you. You have so much to offer.
So what if Victoria’s Secret isn’t going to be blowing up your phone to appear in their next Annual Fashion Show? Does that make you less of a woman? No. You are who God created you. Embrace it. Own it. Love it.
Write yourself a little love note. Post it on your bathroom mirror/office computer/the visor in your car/your snack drawer.
And then post little love notes for others. Go to Operation Beautiful (www.OperationBeautiful.com) to get some inspiration.
Now go out and be fabulous.
I’m Katie.
I’ve known Sarah since we were three. She made it clear that I knew that she had crushes (Yes, I’m pretty sure she used that word. Yes, at three.) on all of the boys in our preschool class and that I was to know my place. I blog at Ordinary Girl, Extraordinary Journey. I am, in fact, an ordinary girl but my journey is anything but. And, I’m sure, yours is too. Come on over, I’d love to hear about it.