2014

This year, vow to love yourself unconditionally.

True Colors

My newest obsession is taking personality assessments.  (As you can tell, I have some new-found free time since I've finished my senior project.)  SOME ARE SO TRUE IT'S SCARY!  One told me that I "love to build self esteem and make others feel good about who they are".  I thought it'd be cool for you guys to find out more about your own strengths, weaknesses, and little quirks!  By discovering what type of personality type you have, you can learn more on how to make yourself happy!  This is a simple one that was given to me in Psychology.  I discovered that I a have a blue personality, what are you? -->
TRUE COLORS PERSONALITY TEST

Love Yourself, You Beautiful Potato

Matisyahu - One Day (YouTube Version)

 I hope that it's true, one day there will be no more wars.  I hope that one day racism, sexism, bullying, and homophobia will only be apart of the past.

Celebrities and Body Image

Drew Barrymore

"God made a very obvious choice when he made me voluptuous; why would I go against what he decided for me?"

Fergie

"I have learned more and more to enjoy my body when I have a few extra pounds on, just being more voluptuous.  I say, focus on the body part that you feel most comfortable about."

Lady Gaga

"When I wake up in the morning, I feel just like any other insecure 24 year old girl.  Then I say, 'You're Lady Gaga, you get up and walk the walk today."

Gabourey Sidibe

"One day I had to sit down with myself and decide that I loved myself no matter what my body looked like and what other people thought about my body."

Christina Aguilera

"The female body is something that's so beautiful.  I wish women would be proud of their bodies and not diss other women for being proud of theirs!"

Tyra Banks

"Girls of all kinds can be beautiful- from the thin, plus sized, short, very tall, ebony to porcelain-skinned; the quirky, clumsy, shy, outgoing and all in between."

Kate Winslet 

"Nobody is perfect.  I just don't believe in perfection.  But I do believe in saying, 'This is who I am and look at me not being perfect!'  I'm proud of that."

Hunger Games Jennifer Lawrence talks body image.

I LOVE HER AND WHAT SHE STANDS FOR.  Sorry this is not the most exciting video but the message is great.

Just Numbers

Today's models weigh 23% less than the average healthy girl
The chance of being the same size as a catwalk model is 7%
The chance of being the same size as a supermodel is 1%

yet...

90% of Teenage girls are concerned about their weight
75% of healthy weighted women think they are over weight
and only 2% of women around the world consider themselves 
beautiful.


I LITERALLY JUST WATCHED MYSELF GET SAD.

Evolution of Bathing Suits

20's

40's

80's

2013

I don't know about you but THIS ^ does not look good on me.  

So whether you look like this:

Or this:

Just be comfortable and be you.  

You have one body, only one, no matter how hard you criticize and try to change it.  Someone would kill for your eyes, your hair, your skin, and yes- even those pesky hips.  Don't put yourself down for eating dessert or ordering fries.  Try your best to stay healthy and fit but don't restrict yourself to the point where you are unhappy.  Not all of us are built to be swimsuit models.

Expectations V.S Reality

Expectation:
Ooo I'm going to dye my hair so I look fabulous and flawless.

Reality:

You look homeless.

Expectation: My makeup will stay on and I will look sleek and girly while I wash my face.

Reality:

I look like the Grudge.

Yet somehow I like reality better.

Girl Stuff

In no way do you need makeup and jewelry to be pretty but sometimes it's just plain fun.
"A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous."
-CoCo Chanel

Be Fierce

Okay, so you may not hear me roar but I will let out a quiet 'meow' every now and then.  That's enough for me.

"Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring."

-Marilyn Monroe

Brand Names are Overrated

When I was younger my mom would drag me through goodwill's and consignment stores.  I was embarrassed that she bought second hand clothes and I demanded to still wear brand names.

Simply put- I was really ungrateful.

  I don't remember when it hit me, but one day I walked into goodwill with an open mind.  "There is absolutely nothing wrong with these clothes",  I would tell myself.  Why in the world would I turn down a cute top just because it's not a brand name?  Oh and not to mention it's inexpensive!  Now I love, I adore, shopping at goodwill.  Gently worn clothes fill up a good chunk of my closet and I am proud of how much money I have saved!  You wear your clothes, they don't wear you.

"Pretty"

This video will not load on certain mobile devices so here is the link : Pretty -Katie Makkai
Often times we feel so much pressure from our parents, society, and even ourselves.  We live in such a fast pace world where we don't take enough time to really look into ourselves and others.  It takes hardly any effort to judge someone for how they look and place labels on them.  In contrast, it takes patience and motivation to get to know someone.

I promise it's always worth the time spent.

Blind Spots

A friend of mine has recently ran away from home.  Tyler is incredibly smart and remarkably funny so this was really shocking.  This post however is not only about him.  It is about every single human being who feels the need to disappear.  I cannot express how terrible and guilty I feel from failing to prevent Tyler's disappearance.  I can make excuses all day for why we haven't talked in awhile but in the end I know that I could have, and I should have, reached out to him.  I didn't know he was having trouble.  Often times we don't know when someone is suffering.  Have you ever been down in the dumps yet pretended to be okay?  I think most of us have.  A lot of us hide our feelings and they go unknown to the rest of the world.  Some go their entire lives staying unknown to the world.  It is a shame to see someone left out of their own life. Since we never know who could be neck deep in sadness, we should treat everyone with up most respect.  I feel deep regret for not talking to Tyler more often but I can try to do better at making others feel important.  I just hope I get the chance to speak to him if he comes home.  Using the word "if" is so scary.  We cannot let people slip into our blind spots.    

There should be no kids sitting alone at lunch.  There should be no kids who have to cry in secrecy.  There should be no one period who has to go through life alone.  

A Place For Me By Anonymous There is a special place in life that needs my humble skill, A certain job I'm meant to do, which no one else can fulfill, The time will be demanding, and the pay is not too good And yet I wouldn't change it for a moment -- even if i could There is a special place in life, a goal I must attain, A dream that I must follow, because I won't be back again. There is a mark that I must leave, however small it seems to be, A legacy of love for those who follow after me There is a special place in life, that only I may share, A little path that bears my name, awaiting me somewhere. There is a hand that I must hold, a word that I must say, A smile that I must give for there are tears to blow away There is a special place in life that I was meant to fill A sunny spot where flowers grow, upon a windy hill There's always a tomorrow and the best is yet to be, And somewhere in this world, I know there is a place for me

You have a purpose.  Often times it is difficult to find where we belong but if we keep our heads up we will eventually find our place. 

Jonny Diaz "More Beautiful You" Official Music Video

God made you exactly how you are.  He spent so much time making you unique and different from all the others.  You are a constant gift to this world, given by God.  I cannot tell you how long it took me to realize this.

She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
Proverbs 3:15

WORRYING ABOUT BODY IMAGE IS EXHAUSTING

I have been trying to figure out which one of these cover models I look like but I can't seem to relate to any...

Maybe this is because none of them actually have perfect skin, hair, teeth, or bodies.  These girls have flaws too we just don't get the opportunity to see them.  Magazine publishers edit and tweak their images until they took "perfect".  Unfortunately, young girls like you and I see this as our goal look, yet it's unattainable. 

QUESTION: Am I beautiful??

ANSWER:

Turn your back on the negativity of the world and be yourself.

Removing the mask

Go to http://www.seventeen.com/health/tips/body-peace-pledge to officially make peace with your body and sign the treaty.

Dove Real Beauty Sketches

A teacher first showed me this video.  At first I didn't know what it was about, I was just excited to be watching YouTube in class!  After the video ended and the meaning was clear, I was really moved by this.  I thought "Wow, everyone should watch this!"  It perfectly sums up the idea I'm trying to express.