Yesterday I had the opportunity to spend the morning with one of my best friends picking up trash along the waters of Huntington Beach. Even though it was only 8:00 in the morning, the sun was beating down on our backs, so we decided to pull a middle school move and tie our sweatshirts around our waists. We were definitely the bells of the ball that day.I looked over to my left and saw my friend Kellie admiring her shadow in the sand. She pointed out to me how much she loved her shadow considering it is always a skinnier, taller version than our actual self. And for little 5'1 Kellie, she always strives to be a little taller.
As I was looking at my own shadow, a thought raced through my mind:
What if our own shadow is the way everyone else views us, but the image we are faced to see daily in the mirror is how we perceive ourselves?
In the world that we live in, with photo-shopped images and new-age diets, it is hard to view yourself as a beautiful individual. I just don't understand who decided that the body that we live in isn't up to par with some far-off out of this world standard. Where is the standard? Where does it start, where does it even end? Is it a size 0, is it hips, is it blue eyes and black hair, how are we supposed to know?
No, here's the real question. Why do we want to know.
As a teenager who is far away from a size zero but is surrounded by them daily, it's hard to see myself as a beautiful individual. I wake up in the morning, glance at myself in the mirror, and run out the door with confidence and grace only to arrive at school ignoring any shred of self-confidence I stepped out with only minutes earlier.
Is it sad that I truly do love my shadow, perhaps even more than I love myself? I'd say so. I'd also say that I am definitely not alone in this thought process.
I want that to change.
So, who the hell says it can't?
Because I SAY IT CAN.
What will you choose to do? Wrap yourself up in the net of distortion that society has trapped us in, or will you break free from the conformity and look at yourself the way everyone else sees you: as your own beautifully crafted shadow.
Love yourself. You were made too uniquely not to and you live too short to disregard that.
Psalm 45:11
The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord
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