The Naked Truth
For most of us, women especially, one of the hardest things we can ever do is look at ourselves totally naked in the mirror. We might have a little breast action once we step out of the shower and are brushing our teeth in the bathroom, but I’m talking about that full length, let me see me, taking in of ourselves in the mirror. Even as little kids we are told that being naked is a bad thing and we need to cover ourselves up. We are conditioned over the years by our families and our society that exposure of skin is something bad. Like when we wear that shirt that exposes a little bit of cleavage or a skirt that shows a little too much leg, we have that little extra twinkle in our eyes because we feel like we are getting away with something bad. But at the same time, when we see another sister doing the same thing, the thought that she is doing a little too much just might cross our minds as well. (Don’t act like that has never happened!) But the point is that it is hard to fully look at yourself naked in the mirror and truly examine your body. This is especially hard for big girls, but I think that we all need to get over ourselves and start loving ourselves, for all of our nakedness and flaws.
For me, I’ve really been trying to discover who Brandelyn the woman is and all of that is included in all the working out and candles and wine and all that, but one of my biggest problems was being able to look at myself in the mirror. I’ve always been told that I have a pretty face, and have even convinced myself that I am only beautiful from the neck up. I have been known to look at a man crazy if he tells me I’m sexy because I have never been able to think of myself that way. My face is not sexy, its cute…because that is what I am…cute…Well, I’m stopping all that. Its like India.Arie says: “I'm gonna take off all my clothes, Look at myself in the mirror, We're gonna have a conversation, We're gonna heal the disconnection, I don't remember when it started, But this is where it's gonna end, My body is beautiful and sacred, And I'm gonna celebrate it.” And why shouldn’t I celebrate me? This is the only body I’m ever going to have, so why not appreciate it now? Some people may think this is a pride thing, but really it isn’t. Its about learning to love yourself, flaws and all and just accepting every aspect of what makes you, you. I call it a re-birth of self and it really has freed me of a lot of my own issues. You’d be surprised at how refreshing it is to just look at yourself and acknowledge that yes you do have flaws, but so what…it doesn’t make you any less of a person…It actually makes you even better of a person because each scar has a story…every bump and bruise is sign of life and we need to get over ourselves and just embrace that. So go home, take off your clothes and get in that mirror. Don’t turn your head away, but really look. Get to know you and learn to TRULY love you! That is the only way we can begin to grow!! Peace!!!
