Today I got challenged on Facebook to post 5 pictures that I think I look beautiful in. This whole challenge (and frankly, every challenge that crops up on Facebook), is a waste of time for me. And I think for most people.
I will not participate in this challenge. It is a waste of my time to scour the pictures out there of me and find ones that I look beautiful in. I am happy in my skin. I was in a weight loss competition at work, but I dropped out of it because I was losing too much weight. When I started the challenge, I thought it would be difficult to beat everyone because I didn't have a whole lot to lose. As I started losing weight, however, I became increasingly worried about how little I weighed (I started the competition at 138 lbs, and got down to 134 lbs before I dropped out).
Of course I have some things about my body I would change, but that doesn't extend beyond my wanting a slightly flatter stomach. Or at least, that's what I thought before I started losing weight. Once the pounds started coming off, I was getting anxious. I could feel my pants getting looser and my bras not filling out. I started to get scared. I love my boobs. And I really didn't want to deal with buying new bras and losing that precious fat. When I told people the real reason for me dropping out (I was uncomfortable with how "little" I weighed), they gave me weird looks. I felt ostracized for wanting to weigh more. It says something about our society when I can't say that I want to weigh more without getting glares and confused looks.
People didn't understand that I was comfortable with myself. We're expected to be uncomfortable with who we are. Diets pop up overnight and everyone needs to be on one to 'get that perfect summer bod!' We're pressured to be stick figures and to never be satisfied.
There's nothing wrong with you the way you are. You are beautiful no matter what anyone says. If you feel beautiful and happy in your own skin, why should you have to show it off to everyone? Confidence is great, but it's a slap in the face those who aren't comfortable.
All that being said, I understand why this challenge exists and why it's good for some women. Since a lot of people can't see their own beauty, they have to be challenged to find it in still pictures. They have to be forced to find good things about themselves. We focus too much on what's wrong with ourselves that we can't see the good.
I stopped focusing on the bad parts of me a while ago. It was too draining. I spent too much energy worrying about things I couldn't change.
So instead of challenging you to post 5 pictures of yourself where you feel beautiful, I challenge you to take 5 minutes each day to forget everything you think is wrong with you and focus on what makes you a beautiful person. I challenge you to stop worrying about things you can't change and start living a healthier life with a more positive outlook on yourself.
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