It never ceases to amaze me how easily it is to get caught up in the superficial aspects of beauty and popularity. There have been women in my life that leave me feeling sad and empty for them. Priorities, beauty, and social status are what drive them. It's important to remember who we are and what WE as women and mother's stand for. For this I write this blog.
Love is important to our very beings. Love feeds us, comforts us, frustrates us, and leads us in various different adventures we wouldn't have explored with out it. The lack of love can damage and destroy someones soul and self-worth. That does not exclude ourselves. It is so very important to remember to love the person you see in the mirror ... everyday. Feelings of self-worth and respect radiate from that one emotion. A happy successful woman is a woman who has experienced love in her life- the love of herself.
I am plagued by how little we women think about ourselves. Why is that? Why can't we just love who we are. I'm not saying we have to accept being overweight. I'm not saying we have to be happy with a wrong decision. I AM saying we need to love who we are on the inside no matter what. Life isn't about beauty. Being thin. Or even how much money we have or make. Life is about relationships, love, and happiness. How can you feel any of those things if you hate yourself?
The worst thing about not loving yourself isn't the lack of self-respect. No. It's the fact that you can't fully and wholly love another person with all of their imperfections until you learn to love yourself. Ugly, beautiful, fat, skinny, tall, or short. You just have to love you. If you don't like your outer appearance then work on your character. Make yourself a caring "go-to" person. Make yourself known as a hard worker, an avid community leader. There are so many things you can do. Sitting back and feeding your own unhappiness will never benefit you or the other's around you. If you want to love your husband, wife, sister, brother, mother, father, or children then begin by loving yourself.
Media has fed on our imperfections and blown every insecurity out of proportion by displaying what "America" finds beautiful and sexy. This (among other things not relative to this blog) has made eating disorders and self-loathing more prominent in our communities. But it isn't the production companies responsibility to make sure every teenage girl feels happy with her own body. That is OUR responsibility.
Every person is beautiful and unique in very different ways. If we want to help our daughters and other women learn to live full and happy love filled lives we need to learn to live this way first. It's sad that many people feed their emptiness with cruel words and superficial goods. It's time to learn we can do this. Every single one of us can learn to love ourselves. Because like I said before, it's the only way for us to learn to love everyone else surrounding our lives appropriately.
This small little word, loaded with so much more meaning doesn't only affect you though. This gigantic fete, if ever fully accomplished is something I have taken on for myself. And even as I rant and preach I've pondered something very personal about myself ...
I truly respect and love the real me underneath this shell of a body. There may be moments when I feel discouraged or unhappy with my appearance, but I'm learning that that isn't the real me. I'm learning that yes I want to be hip, perky, and carefree again, but that I feel proud of the woman I am becoming. I'm learning that I don't want my daughter to grow up ever feeling less than what she is. The making of a queen.
Not only is my Shaylee Elizabeth beautiful and spunky ... but we are ALL beautiful and precious!
*Disclaimer- I am not speaking about any one woman. Most of the women I know have felt little about themselves at one point or another. I am taking all of my experiences and speaking to all of us in general terms. I hope you enjoyed. Please leave a comment and let me know how you feel and think.
Thanks!
~Nichole!
Love is important to our very beings. Love feeds us, comforts us, frustrates us, and leads us in various different adventures we wouldn't have explored with out it. The lack of love can damage and destroy someones soul and self-worth. That does not exclude ourselves. It is so very important to remember to love the person you see in the mirror ... everyday. Feelings of self-worth and respect radiate from that one emotion. A happy successful woman is a woman who has experienced love in her life- the love of herself.
I am plagued by how little we women think about ourselves. Why is that? Why can't we just love who we are. I'm not saying we have to accept being overweight. I'm not saying we have to be happy with a wrong decision. I AM saying we need to love who we are on the inside no matter what. Life isn't about beauty. Being thin. Or even how much money we have or make. Life is about relationships, love, and happiness. How can you feel any of those things if you hate yourself?
The worst thing about not loving yourself isn't the lack of self-respect. No. It's the fact that you can't fully and wholly love another person with all of their imperfections until you learn to love yourself. Ugly, beautiful, fat, skinny, tall, or short. You just have to love you. If you don't like your outer appearance then work on your character. Make yourself a caring "go-to" person. Make yourself known as a hard worker, an avid community leader. There are so many things you can do. Sitting back and feeding your own unhappiness will never benefit you or the other's around you. If you want to love your husband, wife, sister, brother, mother, father, or children then begin by loving yourself.
Media has fed on our imperfections and blown every insecurity out of proportion by displaying what "America" finds beautiful and sexy. This (among other things not relative to this blog) has made eating disorders and self-loathing more prominent in our communities. But it isn't the production companies responsibility to make sure every teenage girl feels happy with her own body. That is OUR responsibility.
Every person is beautiful and unique in very different ways. If we want to help our daughters and other women learn to live full and happy love filled lives we need to learn to live this way first. It's sad that many people feed their emptiness with cruel words and superficial goods. It's time to learn we can do this. Every single one of us can learn to love ourselves. Because like I said before, it's the only way for us to learn to love everyone else surrounding our lives appropriately.
This small little word, loaded with so much more meaning doesn't only affect you though. This gigantic fete, if ever fully accomplished is something I have taken on for myself. And even as I rant and preach I've pondered something very personal about myself ...
I truly respect and love the real me underneath this shell of a body. There may be moments when I feel discouraged or unhappy with my appearance, but I'm learning that that isn't the real me. I'm learning that yes I want to be hip, perky, and carefree again, but that I feel proud of the woman I am becoming. I'm learning that I don't want my daughter to grow up ever feeling less than what she is. The making of a queen.
Not only is my Shaylee Elizabeth beautiful and spunky ... but we are ALL beautiful and precious!
*Disclaimer- I am not speaking about any one woman. Most of the women I know have felt little about themselves at one point or another. I am taking all of my experiences and speaking to all of us in general terms. I hope you enjoyed. Please leave a comment and let me know how you feel and think.
Thanks!
~Nichole!
3 comments:
Hey Der! Great writing! I hope our daughters will always love their bodies no matter what stage of life they're at. I have to agree that Shaylee Elizabeth IS adorable and is well-named. Hannah and Lauren Elizabeth (also well-named) are perfect in my eyes and always will be!
Happy Thursday to ya!
Right on! I love the comment that you can't really love others until you learn to love yourself. So so true. You are an awesome woman. I'm proud to have you as my niece, and I do love you.
When I was pregnant with Emma, and I was taking that English class with Casey, we had to do a lot of reading on this topic. I had a lot of time to ponder the fact that I, too, pray that my little girl will love who she is!! And I think that we tear ourselves down, it doesn't occur to us that our own Mom must feel the same way!I'm so happy that you are regaining your confidence, and making such healthy choices for yourself and your family!! You are such a great example to your family, friends, and to all of your readers! I love you! :)
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