Love YOURSELF Day

Image Courtesy of trashselector.com

Valentine's Day has come and gone, and hopefully you all have had the opportunity to spread a little love to the people who mean the most to you. For this week, however, I am proposing a little twist on that sentiment. I am asking you, lovely readers, to look in the mirror and tell yourself "I Love You".

I am asking for everyone to take a little time to appreciate and love themselves. I mean, if you can't love yourself, how can you love anyone else, right? Now, I am not talking about a day of pampering or self-indulgence, even though that is always an excellent pick-me-up. What I am suggesting goes a lot deeper. I want you to look at yourself and rather than on focusing on your supposed "flaws" I want you to notice all of the things you love about yourself.

Now, you might be wondering what spurred this sudden reaction in me and I will tell you. I am currently taking a women studies class and today we were discussing body image and the perceived "ideal image".

As the class was coming to an end, one girl rose her hand and shared a story about her younger sister. This sister had just turned six and the family was planning a trip to the pool. The sister had a bikini swimsuit, but when it came time to go, she refused to wear it because she thought she was too fat. She cried until her mom bought her a one-piece suit and they ended up not going to the pool at all.

Can you believe it? A six year-old, who is too afraid to wear a bikini because she believes she is too fat?! I was so heartbroken after hearing that story. I couldn't even comprehend the kind of world where first graders are already self-conscious and upset with themselves. Yet, that's the same world we are living in right now. Girls, and boys too, are taught at such a young age that if they do not fit into the "ideal", than they will never find love or happiness.

Image Courtesy of Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty

It is time to stop this cycle. It is time to stop obsessing over our weight, skin, hair and clothes. We don't need a magazine or the media to tell us what is beautiful, because there is already beauty all around us. Just look in the mirror and you'll find it. I am ready for a change. Are you?

I hope to continue this kind of conversation on Sunshiny Beat, because I believe we all need to remind ourselves that we are perfect; not after we lose five pounds, not after we get a makeover and not after we buy new make-up, but just the way we are. Hopefully, we can work together and inspire each other to see the beauty in ourselves. Only after we learn to define beauty on our own terms will we be able to change a world that makes six year-olds feel bad about themselves.

 I am sending oodles upon poodles of love out to all of you! I hope you all have a lovely Monday and remember, you are beautiful!

Leave it to Mark Darcy to know just what to say: