Love Your Mind Etc.

Photo by Rafael da Costa

Hey there lovelies,

I know I spend a lot of time on this blog babbling away about body image - it's an important topic, and one that deserves plenty of voice. Sometimes though, I think that we focus so much on our bodies, and our appearance that we forget about the multitude of other things that are good about us. It is a good thing for us to value our bodies. You know, we need them to live, to get us where we have to go, and for a variety of other reasons. We should love our bodies, and treat them with the respect that they deserve. It's just that sometimes I think we all forget that we are so much more than our bodies. Sure, I feel great when I put the effort into keeping my body healthy and active, and when I can be bothered to shave my legs, get a nice haircut or wax my damn eyebrows. But, I don't need to do any of those things to be the person that I am. I have done plenty of amazing things, and I am amazing in plenty of ways that have nothing to do with how I look. And here's the kicker - so are you.

Just step back and think for a minute (and not about the size of your butt). I'm sure that there are things you love and value about yourself that have nothing to do with your outward appearance. Maybe you're the person who knows everything there is to know about Ancient Egypt, or you have the ability to make anyone you meet laugh milk out their nose. Perhaps you get straight A's in anything academic without even trying, or you can paint pictures that would make Picasso cry. You might even be the best shotputter you know, or have the uncanny ability to craft anything from secondhand materials. You could be an amazing public speaker/debater, or an actor/singer that can move people to tears. These things all have something in common - they have nothing to do with what you look like. Well, that and hearing about any one of these things would probably make you seem more interesting to someone you've only just met than an in-depth analysis of your beauty routine.

I can sew things that I'm happy to wear out in public.
I can happily discuss scientific theory with people I know.
I've spent three years studying psychology, and extending my knowledge about people.
I was once referred to as the "secret weapon" of my debating team.
I win awards for public speaking, and once wrote a short story that made someone cry.

I can read most novels in a day.

All these things make me proud, and I know you have your own. So love them! Find the things that you are incredible at, or that you really love about yourself and cultivate them. Read, laugh, love, speak, make, act, do whatever it is that you do more often. Even better if you can take some of the time you would usually spend obsessing over your appearance and channel it into something else. I'm not saying you shouldn't love your body, or spend lots of time learning how to take care of it, and feel your best. All I'm trying to do is remind you that you are so much more than what you look like - and I'm sure that one day you'll be glad that you spent time cultivating your relationship with those other parts of you. They are the ones that will hang around, long after your appearance changes. Remember, everything about you is worthy of being treasured.

Until next time, xo.