Lately I feel like I keep having thoughts that kind of (want to) remind me why I started blogging- loving the skin you’re in. It’s something I keep coming back to time and again because I get the notion that we are always subconsciously thinking about how what we see in the media affects how we view our bodies. All. The. Time. If it’s not women’s magazines, it’s online sites and social media platforms like Instagram telling us how drinking a herbal tea will flatten your tummy and reduce bloat (marketing gimmicks by the way), or how a lollipop will suppress your appetite and make you eat less so that you don’t gain weight. It just makes me wonder, why is society so bent on making women feel like their bodies are inadequate? Like they should look a certain way and be a certain height and have certain measurements to be considered beautiful. Personally, I think it’s a load of BS.
Do you ever wonder who created these standards? Whomever decided that all women should have hourglass figures? Who made it their decision to create a set of unrealistic standards that women should have a nice set of perky boobs, a flat tummy, tiny waist, thick hips and a full bum to be seen as desirable? It even bothers me that people would actually want to be seen as desirable. In the words of the Slumflower, “We are living in a world where companies sell us solutions to ‘fix’ what isn’t broken, by convincing us that we have all these flaws we should get rid of in order to be perceived as desirable.” Honestly, I don’t think that there is any amount of fixing to your body that can be done if you don’t fully love yourself first. You have to fully celebrate yourself in order to be able to reach a position where your need to be wanted, to be seen and to be liked does not take precedence over how you feel about yourself, both inside and out.
Self-love is a practise that is supposed to be consistent, and with self-love comes the need to to feel wanted or validated, and one of the results is taking control of your body in a way that the world can’t convince you otherwise. It’s not an easy task though, it takes a lot of work, which is why I’m here to tell you that you can love and own your body regardless of its size. Whether thick or thin, fat or skinny, you’re entirely capable of loving your body and owning it in a way that society finds strange. Don’t worry though, someone out there will still be inspired by you.
Blazer / T-shirt / Heels – Woolworths (all from the sales)
Skirt – H&M