There’s been a lot of chatter lately about weight and beauty and appearance. I’ve felt convicted to work on how I see myself, and I imagine I’m not the only person who struggles with this. I’ve heard some wonderful perspectives on what it means to be beautiful. For me, I think it’s about the confidence. That’s a tough struggle because when I look in the mirror, I don’t see the parts I love. I tend to only see the parts I dislike.
I have large thighs, and it’s a constant point of doubt for me. I have what I call “jiggly bits” in my mid-section, possibly my biggest self-complaint. Moving upward, I have a nose that seems to be expanding as I get older. But in thinking about my lack of confidence in feeling beautiful, I started to think about these things I consider flaws.
My legs are big because they are strong. I ride a bike, I run and I do a lot of core workouts focusing on my legs. My thighs are large because I’ve trained them to be strong and powerful and to work as an engine. My mid-section is mostly a result of 22 years of diabetes. I have massive amounts of scar tissue and no matter what I do, most of that will remain. And my nose? Well, it’s the nose of my paternal grandmother who left us several years ago…the nose of a woman I loved very much and would give anything to have another day by her side. So these qualities I dislike so much, these qualities I want to change or make disappear? They tell my story. They are my history and my future, my strength and my motivation.
So here’s to all of us taking a moment and embracing the things that make us unique, the things that make us individuals. It’s not an excuse to stop working toward a goal or an achievement, but we need to stop being so hard on ourselves. Be you. Be beautiful. Be confident. Love yourself today because the things you consider a flaw, tell your story. Own them proudly.