Dear Girl,
First things first, give yourself a round of applause. Being a girl in today's society is hard; you're constantly told what the shape of your body should be, that you either eat too much or not nearly enough, what you should and shouldn't be aloud to wear based on your body type because if something happens to you it could be your own fault, have a good time but if you have too much fun then you must be a "party girl", it's your responsibility to set the rules with those that you're involved with, you can have pride in being a woman but only if it means that you're not to vocal about it, and above all else remember to love yourself.
No before someone gets the wrong idea, please allow me to explain myself. Being a young woman I constantly see where social media is urging me to be this or that but in reality all I really need to be is myself.
You see we're raised in a world today where we're told that we should be feminists and burn our bras, we shouldn't dress a certain way or else we were asking to get harassed, raped, or murdered, we're supposed to love ourselves but only if you look like the photo shopped models on the magazines, we're told that if we're "gay" or "bisexual" that it must mean we're only experimenting and we'll grow out that phase, and we've always been fed the lie that "we're all in this together" when really most girls will jump quick to slut shame or body shame another girl because they don't live the same way we do.
Everything that was listed above are the lessons that we've been fed by the world and I realize that my small little article for The Odyssey won't change the world but maybe it'll make you think twice before you allow others to define you as a person. Personally I'm a Christian and the bible tells me "I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made.Your works are wonderful,and I know this very well." (Psalms 139:14 HCSB) You were made to change the world, you were made to move mountains, and most importantly you were made to be YOU. Simply by your existence taking place, you have made a difference for the better in someway. No matter the color of your skin, your religious standpoint, or sexual preference you can be the awesome in the world.
When I was in high school, my avid teacher would have us look at motivational speeches every week. As I write this article the only thing that keeps coming to mind is the speech from Coach Carter: "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
Go out into the world, shine your light, be the woman that you've always wanted to be, love yourself and show the world what it really means to be a girl.
