Beauty and Self-Esteem – At Any Age It’s A Must

Ever wish you could go back in time and do things differently? How about going back to tell your younger, more insecure self something that just might change their view of the world–or better themselves? I’m no time traveler. I don’t jump between alternate realities or have a spaceship. But imagine with me for a moment how different your life would be if your older, wiser self had the chance to share some words of wisdom with your shy, awkward self from years ago. Words that might go something like this…

Dear Beautiful 12-year-old self,

Over the next few years you will think about your body all the time. You will obsess over every imagined lump and bump. You will compare yourself to every other female you see. You will tell yourself that you are not good enough. That you are fat. That you are ugly. And you will be wrong.

You are beautiful. You are strong. You are smart. Yes, there will always be a girl that is taller and that has leaner legs. There will be a girl that seems to never spill lunch on her white blouse. And, there will be the girl that never studies but always manages to get an A. What you don’t realize now is that all of these “perfect” girls are anything but perfect. And, they have insecurities, too. They look at you and see something that they are not. Maybe they see that you are lucky because you are the most petite girl in the class or maybe they see that every picture you draw in art class gains the teachers praise.

Look in the mirror and recognize that your freckles and strawberry blonde hair are uniquely yours. Know that someday you will not want to cover those freckles up with makeup and know that you will be desperate to find the right shade of hair color to return your hair to it’s youthful luster. Know that you will someday discover that it is not about getting that A. It is about doing your best. And when you find that passion for art your best will be an easy A. Know that there are worse things than being petite and someday you will be glad that you were just made that way. Unfortunately the one thing that will never change is your ability to not spill on yourself. Just don’t wear white blouses (or sit next to someone wearing one).

No, you are not perfect. No one is perfect. Let go and be happy that you are you. And, you being you, well, that is perfection.

Love, Your much older self

We may not ever get the chance to tell our younger selves what we’d like but we can share these words of wisdom with young girls in our lives.