In society, there's pressure to love your body no matter what - and as much as I do agree with that idea, there are still people who don't completely love their body.

I am one of those people. And, as one of those people, I'm a little tired of hearing "You're beautiful in your own way, just love your body no matter what!" If only it were that simple.

Struggling with body image issues since middle school, I've been trained to think that my body is somehow not pretty or unlovable. Unfortunately, that's how a lot of women (and men, too!) have been trained to think because half of society judges because of looks and the other half of society preaches acceptance no matter what shape, race, or gender you are.

But what pressure does that put on the people who really, really want to love the way they look - and sometimes do - but can't completely?

I have curves and love handles, stretch marks and scars. Some days, I'm able to look in the mirror and like what I see and other days, I can't look in the mirror without cringing. But, I've come to terms with the fact that that's just my reality. The trick, however, is what I choose to do with my reality.

I don't shame myself for having the body type that I do. I was made this way and I can't change it. Sure, I can exercise and diet and tan and dress differently, but that won't change the root of the problem - how my brain perceives myself. I don't beat myself up for thinking the way I do because if I did, I would have a lot more scars than I do already.

Over the course of many years, I've learned that I may never be able to completely accept the way I look and I'm okay with that. I don't completely love my body and that's okay, as well. I may never look in the mirror and fall in love with my curves and scars and that's okay, too.

I may not be able to accept the way I look, but I can accept the way that I feel about it and I'm willing to give that a try.