Being grateful about the body we have.

"Let go of who you are supposed to be and embrace who you are."

• -Brene Brown.

Our society puts a lot of pressure on us to look a certain way and to always strive for improvement. There are countless advertisements telling us to lose weight, change our hair, or use certain products to increase our breast size or to look younger.

But even if we were to accomplish this, we would still not be considered to be a part of the "standard of beauty" that is portrayed in magazines and the media. The truth is that this "standard of beauty" is extremely narrow, and it does not acknowledge all the ethnicities, skin colors and body types.

Personally, as a petite curvy Latina, I feel that my body type and ethnicity are not that much represented in the media. However, I tell myself that the way beauty industry defines beauty should not impact my own definition of what is beautiful.

There are many different types of beauty, therefore, it is unfair and discriminatory to think that there is only definition. To compare one type of beauty to another, would be to compare a dolphin to a cheetah. They are both magnificent creatures but each one has their own unique traits that makes them who they are.

We have to be grateful about the bodies we are given. If we consider all the intricate things that happen inside them, we are nothing but masterpieces.

Our heart beats, our lungs give us air, our hands helps us open a door, and our brain and vocal chords helps to communicate with the people we love or not.

Our bodies also help us feel many different sensations. For example; you feel pleasure when you receive a kiss from someone you like, you feel warm when the sun touches your skin, you feel peace when you snuggle with your cat or dog or happy when you get to dance and use all your body to create a piece of moving art.

Our bodies are a blessing as they help us to connect with the world around us. In order to be comfortable in our own skin, we need to consider each aspect of our body, not only the exterior, and most of all, not only consider what others have imposed us as beautiful.

By the way, who are these "others"?

Our bodies are there for us and is our duty to take care of them, by doing exercise and eating healthy. Let's appreciate them and give them the love they deserve.

Other articles by the author:

" What is resilience?" https://www.theodysseyonline.com/resilience-2645893074