Before I started, I was overwhelmed by all that was included and was so worried that I wouldn't have time to do it. So much so that I almost quit before I even began. I'm so glad I didn't. I've found out that I can carve out a little time each night, especially if I set up Luke and Tommy at the table with paint, too. We're all crafting together, almost every night, and I love it.
This week's really struck a chord with me. It is about loving you for you and not spending your time measuring yourself against others. I'm so bad about this. I might leave the house feeling good about myself, but put me in a group of women, and I'll decide why I'm not good enough. Someone will have better hair than me. Better boots. Look cuter in jeans. Thinner thighs. Much better hair. The list goes on and on. It's unfair to me and it's unfair to everyone else, because they didn't leave their house simply to become a measuring stick against which I judge myself. As I'm devaluing myself, I'm also devaluing the women around me. They are more than just their bodies, too.
Last night, I worked on this collage. I looked at each of the women; some pictures provided by Brave Girls Club, others that I'd cut out of a magazine.
It was still drying when I took the picture. It's not the best picture, either, but the purpose was to assign these labels to pictures of other women. Not labels about why she's better than me, but labels about how these women are real human beings who were put on this earth to be more than just a body. To hope, dream, cry, laugh, and simply live. It's a simple realization. Not exactly rocket science, but I can't fathom why it took the simple act of putting words and pictures to paper to strike me. I can't say that I'll never judge myself against others, but I'm going to try to be more cognizant of this--to realize that it doesn't matter if someone wears smaller jeans or has cuter hair, it just matters that we're both humans who are worth so much more.
9 comments:
Awesome - I think everyone can learn from this lesson. I have a horrible tendency to compare myself to others as well...why do we do this to ourselves? I like myself, but I still find myself thinking "if only I could wear that top...it looks so good on her. I'd look frumpy"! Really...we are so much more than an object to look at - we are worth so much more than what is at face value. All women (and men too) need to remember this lesson.
This is great. It's kind of astounding that we constantly have to remind ourselves that other people are actually people, but we do.
I found this post so interesting! What a great project .... Underneath the pretty hair, nice bodies, great teeth or jean size, we are all here with a purpose, and that is to live life the best way that we can. I like to say "be the best YOU that you can be".
Great post!
Erin, I love this and how awakening it really is.
So happy you carved out time for it, be proud of yourself!
I hope I'll get to see this whole project in person someday. Everything you say about it is awesome!
this sounds so awesome and so inspiring and REAL. love it. thanks for sharing, you go girl!
I have so much I could say about this post. I loved it. I do this to myself ALL.THE.TIME. I do this when I go out with friends- even ones I've know since high school. Especially ones I haven't seen in years. And the thought of meeting new people scares me- "what if they think I'm too fat? Not pretty enough?" How rude to all parties! I beat myself up a lot, I can feel myself deflate. And you're right it's so unfair. Thank you so much for writing this. I'm going to work on myself and learn to appreciate everything about me and just be kinder to myself. xo
I love this post. Sometimes I get so busy judging myself against others I also forget they are probably doing that too. We all have insecurities, unfortunately. I really try hard to work against judging myself, because when I focus less on that I know I enjoy myself and my life a whole lot more.
I love this. I've never thought about how my comparing myself to others negatively still makes less of them too. I am usually pretty secure in my self, but I want to figure out how to pass that on to my kids (especially my girls). Much to think about.
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