Funk and Flare 

ON ANOTHER NOTE...

In the upper paragraph, I talked about monstrous thighs. Firstly, for sure that was an exaggeration. But I really want to pick up on the topic of body images and body uncertainty. Because – who really cares about the size of your thighs or my thighs?

For whoever is going to read this, I know that you might struggle with one or another part of your body. It is completely normal. It's because we always set expectations. To the world, to ourselves. And so does the world to us, too. Or at least society. You see, it’s a circle. I always feel a bit preaching when talking about this topic, because I, even when being overweight, always felt like the delicate, precious, magnificent woman I was. My self-confidence has always been rather 110% percent and I just got to learn during the last few years how precious this really is and how grateful I can be for this confidence. Because I saw so, so many people struggling with it. So many people judging themselves for whatever reason. So many people suffering, because they set themselves standards, their genetics just aren’t capable of fulfilling. So many people, that are occasionally a few of the most beautiful I got to know (Like – really beautiful. You look at them and think – damn, babe you for sure as hell are an 11/10). And this is horribly, horribly sad.

(Luckily) We are seeing a lot more body-confidence in the last months and years. A lot more strong women, who do have a bump on their thigh, or who do show their stretch marks, and that for itself already is beautiful. And important. But I really want to point out to you, whichever cutie you are, that is reading this right now, that you are lovely. And pretty. And loved. And beautiful. And that your body is just good as it is. And if you are not already this confident, then please tell yourself this once a day. That you are amazing. That you’re cool. Strong. Posh. Candy. That you are you. (You see why I feel like a preacher? Gosh, pathetic).

Well, even if I do feel pathetic when speaking about this, I also really feel that it is important to bring out this message. If I could give just a glimpse of my confidence to all the lovely people I saw struggling with it, I would be the happiest girl in the world. Or if at least one person who is reading this might feel a bit more confident afterwards. And now it might look like “Aaah, she so confident, blah blah blah. As if she’s not struggling with this, too”. FOR SURE I AM. (Especially in PMS-time, you know the drill, girls). But that’s a ten-minute-struggle for me, instead of the life-long struggle I see those pretty people around me with.

You know, what I am doing when my confidence level is falling a bit? I remind myself how completely crazy and cool the body is. Watched from the medicine-angle. Because that I think, sometimes can be the key. For sure you can tell yourself that you don’t have to fulfill society's standards (And don’t get me wrong - that is completely the truth and to secure this message in your heart actually is the goal) but sometimes it really is enough to remind yourself what your beautiful body is doing all day, all night to you.

You have a lot of organs, that are constantly working, blood flowing through your body, hormones, pretty cool biochemical stuff that is going on there. You have A VERY STRONG MUSCLE – even if you missed out on your workout for the last days, weeks, or months – that is training itself all the time (talking about our hearts here ‘aight?). An immune system that takes care you don’t get sick and has a memory of its own. You have a brain that stores memories. You have senses that make you capable of noticing your environment and then comes your brain again, which lets you classify those. You have very specific muscles around your mouth in your cheeks that make you SMILE. Yes, that sounds simple, but compared to every other living species, this makes us quite special. And that’s why we should do this far, far more often, but that’s on another note.

Anyway. What I’m trying to tell you –

WHY ON EARTH SHOULD YOU BE SAD ABOUT YOUR BODY WHEN IT’S THE MOST COMPLEX AND COOL THING EVER? The body gives and gives and gives to us. It makes us live. It makes us be here. It even makes it possible to you, to have these self-shattering thoughts. But it also shows you day in and day out why you should be proud of it. And everything else would be fairly ungrateful, wouldn’t it? You wouldn't slap and insult someone, who is treating you with gifts all the time, am I right?

So you might as well can remember this when feeling down the next time. That your body is cool. That you should be grateful, that it is the clump of cells that holds you together. That your genetics made you the way you are today. Physically, and psychologically. And then something that goes along with this - that you should take care of it. I don’t want to go into full preaching-mode on health, nutrition, sports, whatsoever (and I can’t because hehe, surprise – I’m not an expert!). Just finding your balance is the key, I guess. But sure is, you will feel a lot more confident if you’re treating your shell the right way. And whatever the right way is, you have to find out for yourself. ANYWAYS long story short – daaaaamn you lil ass cutie right in front of the screen, you look LOVELY today!!! 10/10 of a snack you sweetheart are ;).

Don't you let anyone tell you otherwise, ever. 

XX,

Yoko