Yes, those would be my super-duper white legs on the abductor machine at the rec center.
Yesterday I went to the gym and had a little...I don't even really know what to call it. Call me crazy, but I had a little conversation with myself in my head.
Just the average day at the gym with Daniel... (he's a total workout/ health nut) and I wasn't feeling very motivated. That was, until I saw HER.
I had absolutely no clue who this girl was, but I didn't need to. Just looking at her was enough to know her personality. The girl was toned, tanned, blonde, poised, and pretty much any other desirable physical trait you could want. And the girl carried herself like she knew it. Not in a cocky, look-at-me fashion, but she definitely had confidence and was sure of herself. She walked around that gym like she had just as much right to be using those machines as the other buff guys did. And you know what? I instantly LOATHED her.
Here starts the conversation in my head part. "Look at that girl, acting like she's hot stuff, walking around like she owns the place and thinks she's better than any other female in here. Pshhhhtt, look at how tan she is. Fake baker! And look at those calves, she must not have anything better to do than go to the gym!" Yeah, really harsh and bratty of me, I know.
There I sat on my mat to do some crunches just mentally ripping this girl that I didn't know to shreds. And my fiery thoughts motivated me to be better than her. But the more I watched her walk around, the more a conclusion dawned on me.
I didn't dislike her muscular calves or tanned skin. I disliked my tone-lacking calves and pasty skin. And even worse, I disliked my lack of self confidence.
Now don't get me wrong. I'm not some self-despising female who feeds off of hatred for other seemingly "more perfect" gals. I feel pretty good about myself most days, but yesterday something in me was lacking, and I chose to take it out on this poor girl (well, mentally).
And then another thought came to me. Why should I instantly dislike someone because she has a trait that I don't? I may not be a gym buff, and she is. But maybe I can play piano, and the girl has never picked up an instrument in her life. And I'm sure she has some insecurity with herself, just like me. And I'm sure she loves something about herself too, as do I (I don't like my legs, but I love my long hair). And that's okay. That's normal! But no matter what we love/dislike about ourselves, those features make us unique! You might hate your freckles or something else, but they make you YOU! And I know that sounds cliche, but it's true. Different times I'll get a blemish on my cheek and I remark on how I hate it. Daniel always tells me that he thinks it looks like I have rosy cheeks...he says it seems so me to have rosy cheeks and he loves that about me. I also have this little cluster of freckles on the back of my arm that isn't exactly my favorite, but my sister loves it and tells me it's cute. I would have never picked that out to be an outstanding trait of mine, but she did! It's something that's mine and mine only. America's Next Top Model may have million dollar legs, but she doesn't have that freckle spot on the back of her arm. I may be no model, but then again, no model will ever be me!
So whoever is reading this, you are beautiful. Don't ever forget that:)
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