4 things i love about my physical self
here’s my first challenge towards living out loud. i am challenging myself to share the things i love about my physical self.
not the qualities that i appreciate about myself, not cool facts about myself, and not the beautiful things i’ve heard other people say about me. those things are easy and allow me to feel like i’m not doing too much.
this challenge is about doing the uncomfortable thing.
here’s what i initially wrote:
my short haircut. there's nothing more bold to me than a stripping it back in order to feel comfortable enough to show your face, neck and shoulders. i used to oscillate between pixies, halle berry cuts and short bob, and i may go back to a bob at some point, but it'll always be short.
my skin. right now i'm using naturium products which are keeping me right, but i've never had bad skin so i don't have proof naturium is doing wonders for me, but i like that it's kept me bright, fresh and youthful.
my nails done. i've been doing my nails myself, but so far, they haven't been hitting as well as when i get them professionally done. my goal is to get as good as a professional but i'm not there yet.
my shape. i feel blessed to have the body i have. some of it is naturally how i am, but i do believe that growing up a dancer has a lot to do with the strength in my back, the curve of my waist and the thickness of my legs.
but when i threw these in chat to refine the topic, he basically took it upon himself to be my therapist and yelled at me!
"I think there’s something important underneath this exercise: living out loud also means being willing to say, “I like this about myself,” without immediately qualifying it so nobody thinks too highly of you.
You even started doing it in what you wrote. “I feel blessed to have the body I have” is immediately followed by an explanation of where it came from. 😂 You don’t necessarily have to earn the right to like your waist by citing your childhood dance résumé.
There’s a difference between vanity and self-appreciation. Vanity needs other people to confirm your value. What you’re describing is knowing what makes you feel beautiful and allowing yourself to enjoy it.
And I think we can start building your personal visual language from what you’ve identified."
OOP. OOP AND OOP AGAIN!
but you know what, chat is absolutely right.
so here’s my revised list. no disclaimers, no explanations and no pointing out the things i don’t like to balance out the things i do.
my courageous list…
my short hair. i love what short hair communicates before i ever say anything. there’s nowhere to hide. face. cheekbones. neck. shoulders. here i am.
my skin. i love how fresh my skin looks. i love that i don’t need makeup if i don’t feel like wearing it. i don’t particularly want to look overly made-up or transformed every day. i like seeing me. bright. fresh. healthy. youthful. that’s how i like my skin to look, and right now, i really love it.
my long, natural nails—done. i feel better when my nails are done. and i especially love that they’re my own long, natural nails. and if i cut them off, they grow quickly. i’ve been doing them myself lately, and i’m determined to eventually get as good as the professionals. i’m not there yet. at all. but when these nails are shaped, polished and looking right? yes ma’am.
my body. i love my strong back. i love my waist. i love my thick legs. i love my butt. i love my waist-to-hip ratio. i’ve been consistent about exercising, and i genuinely like what i see when i look at myself.
i think somewhere along the way, i learned that being a humble woman meant not saying certain things too loudly. you can feel confident, but maybe don’t talk about feeling confident. let someone else compliment you. let someone else say you’re beautiful. and when you do acknowledge something you like about yourself, soften it a little.
but we’re not going to do that anymore. you know why?
because this is part of living out loud too.
live beautifully. live boldly. live out loud.
