Girls: We Just Don't Get It.

May 14, 2014

We think that we know everything, and that may be true for a lot of things, but there's one thing we'll never get; We are beautiful. We never will understand that each and every one of us are absolutely beautiful in our own perfect way. We were made perfectly for the lives that we will lead. Some of us have diseases that show on our bodies, and some of us were born without limbs. We are each different in our perfectly unique ways. We will each be an inspiration to the people around us in the way that we present ourselves, and the confidence we let shine.

Yet, all of us struggle with body image. We struggle with being confident in our skin, and thinking we aren't enough. Why? Because the magazines tell us we aren't as beautiful as the actresses on the cover? Bull! We are just as beautiful! The only thing that they have on their side is photo shop. I'd say that they also have confidence on their side, but I can't be sure. There could be some actresses out there who are just as self-conscious as you or I. Have you not seen those covers of the same actresses when they are caught without makeup or having a bad day? They are just like us.

Comparing ourselves to others is the exact reason why we have self-conscious teens taking their own lives, because they feel they aren't enough. We all do it. We sit and compare ourselves to others, and nitpick every single thing we don't like about ourselves and others. We've got it in our brains that the only way we can feel better about ourselves is by pointing out the flaws in others. It's true that we find flaws in others that are our own worst flaws. We're doing ourselves an injustice by putting others down. Especially when one of the best things we can do to build our happiness is by building other people up. Giving them compliments, and appreciating all of the unique people who live around us, who make the world better with their unique traits, is exactly what will makes us feel 100 times happier.

This idea that we have got in our heads of the ideal look, the perfect body shape, the perfect makeup, or the perfect hairstyle is completely bogus. It's all of us trying to have something exactly like the person who first introduced it. Well let me tell you something, it won't ever look like it does on them, because our body shape is completely different, we don't have the same facial structure, our head does not have the same hair line, or thick hair, and we are not the same person! We don't understand how much our lives are being altered because we are trying to be beautiful.

When I was in the eighth grade I was trying to help my friends who were bulimic, or anorexic. I made sure that the bathroom was not accessible and that food wasn't an option. I could never understand the need to take such drastic measures to alter your body. I understand now how easy it must have been to feel inadequate in their own body. The pressures of having the perfect body shape is something no one should feel.

I have recently been on the other side of eating disorders and insecurities. I have just realized that I had an issue without even knowing. It has become more apparent now that I am some what of a binge eater. I will go all day without eating anything, or hardly anything. Then when I finally get to eat, I eat quite a bit. I have become even worse about it because I don't like taking shots with every meal. :/ I would rather take 1 shot for all of my meals than 4 or 5 a day. I know that's not how it's supposed to be, and it's not healthy. It sure is easier though!

Recently with the diabetes I have struggled a lot with my body image. At first I was losing a lot of weight, I got down to 105 lbs when my blood sugar was high. I thinned out a lot because my body was struggling. Then when I was diagnosed I started to go to the gym a lot more frequently. I started to gain amazing self confidence and I was loving how I looked. Well, then I got in a funk and stopped taking my insulin, which again made me lose a lot of weight. I didn't change hardly at all at that time because I was losing more weight. Now that I am taking insulin and haven't been a frequent gym goer I have gained a lot of weight. It's been hard to have all of these changes happen and is confusing on your brain about your body image. To be honest with you I am the same size I was before I got sick, and a healthy weight for my height and age. I am becoming so healthy, and I don't look sick anymore and yet I still have a hard time with my body image.

Why? I shouldn't have a problem at all. I am still a relatively very small girl, and I am not overweight. I am bothered because I know that at one point I had more muscle definition than this, and now that's gone. It's sad to me that girls will be so upset about their body image simply because they aren't someone else's size, shape, or have their muscle definition. Seriously? We should be proud that we aren't like someone else! You are you, and no one can do that better than you. Size shouldn't matter, health should matter. Muscle definition shouldn't matter, health should matter. Shape shouldn't matter, health should matter. Insecurities don't matter, happiness matters. That's what is going to outshine your muscle definition, shape, or size. People can see your happiness radiate from you. They will see that you are healthy, and happy and they won't even notice if your pants don't fit quite right, or that they might be a little too big. I know that it is a lot easier said than done to stop worrying about your body image. I have battled with feeling too big, or too little, and it's not worth it. It just adds extra stress to your body, and let's be honest, that doesn't help at all!

Our bodies are absolutely amazing. We are made to make humans, who can say that!? Your body is functioning and it will make extra space for all of the food you are eating, or the baby you are carrying. We have amazing bodies. We should be so proud of ourselves, because we deal with a lot! Don't stress yourself out because you put on weight, or you are too small. You're beautiful and you know what? Everyone can see that except for yourself. Open your eyes! As much as we say that we get it, we just don't get it. Ladies, have some confidence, because you are incredible.