Yes, it's another one of those inspirational body image posts.

               

(Photo of Tatiana Mercedes, edited by yours truly)

     Lately, I've been kind of hard on myself. Christmas break rolled around a couple months ago and my family is from South America, (Guyana to be exact) therefore, Christmas cooking at our home trumps the original thanksgiving feast by a landslide; pilgrims and everything; and lasts for about a month (that is no exaggeration). I went a little "coo-coo for coco puffs" over all the homemade bread, Pepperpot (a traditional Guyanese Christmas dish) and black cake (a traditional Guyanese dessert). I gained about 5 pounds over Christmas break and 3 more stress-induced pounds, and for all you mathematicians out there, I gained a grand total of about 7 pounds. That's when I protested the fact that I was going to eat salads and flax seeds for the rest of my life (didn't happen by the way). 

     

     The other day, I found myself re-reading my "heavy doesn't mean hopeless" post I made around January (you can check that out here )and it Reminded me how far I've come and the fact that I always used to tell myself "I'll love the fat until I can love the fit", which is a funky little homemade phrase I've managed to unconsciously live by. I also reminded myself of the fact that, everyone has their days, I can't look like Beyonce all the time, Beyonce needs to be Beyonce sometimes (it was a joke). Don't be fooled, I love myself, and managed become a master at not giving a hoot or holler about what how others percieve me appearance wise,because I love who I am. But, even I have my days when when I don't feel my best, and that's fine because of that fact that, that's normal and I don't let it linger on through out the day and or define the way In which I perceive myself. 

     

     I cannot stress enough, the fact that, thin, fit, curvy and everything else in between, our weight/outward appearance has NOTHING to do with our worth, character, lovability, future success or beauty. You are worth the world and deserve to treat yourself as such royalty. If someone else cannot see that, that is perfectly fine as long as you are aware of your own worth and do not allow anyone to lower your value by treating you as anything less than gold. Say it with me: I AM BEAUTIFUL. There is someone out there dying to have someone like you but you've got to love yourself first and the first step to  doing so is believing that you are worthy of being loved. 

And just a reminder, if you guys ever need anything, advice or just a listening ear, I'm here. My contact links and email are located on the homepage and I'll leave them below. I'm here for you, You deserve to have someone by your side rooting you in through the projectiles life throws at you through its marathon (not a race) and I am eager to root you on while you make your way over to greater things, whatever they may be. 

~ Nathia

Email: asknathia@gmail.com
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