I think this is a subject that needs to be widely addressed. I know it's easy to bury your troubles and hide them in the dark for no one to see. I've done it a lot. I just want to let you know, you are not alone. And if one of the points doesn't directly apply to you, know that it does to someone out there. Odds are, it's most likely someone you know. And if you take just a little bit of your time to talk to them, it could make all the difference.
- Appearance
What many people fail to realize is, what makes you imperfect, makes you you. Uniqueness makes you beautiful.
I used to have really crooked teeth, and I noticed that people who had "better teeth" than me were too self-conscious to even smile. That made me really sad. I wanted to show them it was okay to talk, smile, laugh and be themselves because hiding all the time is incredibly hard.
Now the issue with weight. I know, I know. Why not just leave it alone, right? A lot of people complain about extra weight, but we don't often realize thin people struggle with body acceptance also. Someone I know used to wear 5 pairs of knee socks when she'd wear a dress to school because she thought her legs were too skinny. So, you see, we all have trouble accepting ourselves, no matter what we look like.
I just want to tell you, being healthy is beautiful. If you are healthy and happy with the way you look, that's all you need, really.
Being yourself is beautiful
- Worrying When You'll Find "The One"
But, I'm learning to trust that God knows what He's doing. He obviously knows better than we do!
I don't want to rush God's timing, either. He is molding and shaping each of you for the other. But, it would be a whole lot easier if we were just born with identical tattoos or something so we wouldn't have to waste our time in other relationships that didn't lead anywhere, wouldn't it? But, I'm often reminded, to everything there is a season and a time.
- Feeling Awkward, Lonely or Depressed
I've recently dealt with feeling lonely and depressed. I didn't think I had any friends. Or at least not many. I tried to hide what I was feeling for the longest time, but the longer I went without talking about it, the worse it got, it seems. I even thought about cutting. I never did, but that really showed me how a lot of people feel some of the time. I had a renewed understanding of people in general. If you feel these things and you think there must be something wrong with you, you are wrong.
- There is nothing wrong with you. You were created to have emotions, good and bad. Many, many people struggle with it. You aren't alone.
- You should talk to someone you trust about these feelings. Someone who knows you really well, like your parents. From personal experience, I would feel better for maybe a day (depending on how that day went) and they would come back stronger and fiercer than before. But, after I talked to my mom a few times, I'd gradually feel better.
"One small crack doesn't mean you are broken, it means that you were put to the test and you didn't fall apart." --Linda Poindexter