A letter to the World

A while back I was having a hard time sleeping. It was just one of those nights where you are so incredibly exhausted that your eyes feel like they are too big to fit in your skull, and where your brain has reached a point where it is so tired it can't even shut itself off. So I was laying in bed...trying to force my eyes back into my head and trying to calm my brain down enough to where I could begin to relax. It had been just one of those times where everything just seemed to be going wrong, everything was dark (figuratively and physically), I was questioning myself. While I was just trying to find someway to sleep, my mind began shouting/writing this letter of sorts, and for some reason, I knew it had to be written down before it disappeared from existence. It was strange because as I was writing, it didn't feel at all like it was me that was writing this letter/message, but someone else. I was writing down what someone was dictating to me. I thought I'd share it with the world because it not only applied to me, but it applies to anyone who is struggling, anyone who is going through a trial, anyone who feels alone, anyone who is having a hard time. So this letter is for you. Read it. Absorb it.

Dear You,

                I know it is hard. I know that you are hurting. I know you feel let down, disappointed, heart-broken, depressed, and alone. I know you don’t feel good enough to be loved or wanted, but one day you will see and understand why this had to happen and why you had to struggle so much. You are so much stronger than you give yourself credit for. You are incredible and the strength within you will grow and you will change the world with who you are. Be good. Do good. Work hard and even though you are afraid, keep going. Life is scary and your greatest accomplishments will come from your scary moments. Doubt not, fear not. Those times when you feel alone, just remember that even though you feel the darkness creeping in, you possess a light that can outshine and conquer anything that is trying to hold you down. Remember that even though you may feel friendless and feel like no one cares, you always have a Father and Brother who will always stand by your side as long as you reach for them. They will always be by your side and will always listen to what you have to say. Don’t forget about them. Allow them to hold you up when you can no longer stand. Watch for the hand of God in your life and find things to be grateful for, even when it is hard to do so. Trust them with your whole being. They are the only ones that will not let you down. They will always love you no matter how unloved you think you are and when you are alone in the darkness, they will be fighting your demons and protecting you from being consumed by the darkness; they will be holding you close with more love than you can understand. They know you better than you know yourself and they know what you need to become the best that you can be. Let them guide you, even when you must take a leap of faith into the unknown. It will be hard, but together with Christ and Heavenly Father, you cannot fail. With them you can do hard things. Have faith. Breathe. And keep smiling. Happiness will return to you again, I promise. And most of all, remember that you are enough.

Love, Me

The World's Standard of Perfection (The Body Image)

Everyone is obsessed with their weight; losing it, how much they have gained, how much they currently weigh, how much they want to lose, etc. The world we live in is always pressuring those who live in it to be the 'perfect' size. To look a certain way. To be a specific shape. Well, I am here to tell the world, that they are wrong. Not only wrong, but, dead wrong.

The world says that I need a thin waist, that my thighs shouldn't touch, that my stomach should be flat. I'll just say it right now, none of those things apply to me, nor do I think that it is important that my stomach be flat instead having a curve. Those 'standards' from the world are geared towards men and women alike. Men are to look toned, muscular, and to have rock hard abs. I am here to say that those qualities don't really matter. There are much more important things in the world than to be model-esque, which by the worlds standards is basically starving yourself, having a negative pant size, and legs that are as long a giraffe's neck,  basically flawless. Everyone has flaws. No one is perfect. No, not even me...or even you for that matter. Sorry to hurt your feelings, but you and I are far from perfect. Our flaws are what makes us who we are.

All of the images that are plastered in magazines, television, films, billboards, advertisements are fake. They photograph a starved model, someone who is supposedly perfect and beautiful by the world's view, and what do they do to them??? They photoshop them!!! They lengthen the neck, trim the waist, thighs, neck, etc. and extend the legs even more, give them bigger eyes, etc. So basically the images that we see ARE NOT REAL. They are not actually real people. The standards that the world of beauty has set are NOT REALISTICALLY ACHIEVABLE. They alter what is already beautiful according to their own standards. How does that even make sense??? Why would you try to perfect something that you have already deemed perfect. The world is never satisfied with looks. NEVER. You will never achieve what they are showing you. Why can't they just capture what is real?

What really matters is what you do in life, how you act, how you treat people. If all you have going for yourself and all you care about is looks-sorry, but you don't have much to offer me or anyone else really. I am tired of seeing the effects of this standard on men and women. It breaks down self-esteem and confidence. It makes you dislike they way you look, so much so in some people that is becomes debilitating disorder. Is that really the type of world we want to live in??? A world that is constantly telling us that we are not pretty or handsome enough to exist. Is that the legacy that we should be leaving for the upcoming generations?  A legacy that is shouting at them, telling them that how they look isn't good enough. Telling them that because they don't look like the people in the media, they need to change who they are.

We should be focusing more on what we can contribute to the world, our society, and to our communities. Being skinny doesn't help the neighbors who are struggling to feed their children. Having rock hard abs doesn't help fight abuse. Having thighs that don't touch doesn't stop pollution. Do you see my point yet??? If not, you may be a hopeless case.

Side Notes:

I want to point out that there have been some companies that are fighting to change this standard, which I applaud. (*claps), but is it enough? Can just a few companies change it all? You tell me.

I also want to point out that although looks don't matter, your health does. There is a huge difference between being healthy and trying to fit into the world's standards. One shouldn't compromise one's health for the sake of being skinny.