I'm Telling My Inner Critic 'Thank U, Next' And You Should, Too

I'm Telling My Inner Critic 'Thank U, Next' And You Should, Too

This is goodbye.

Sophia Mayfield
Sophia Mayfield Nov 12, 2018
476
views

Ariana Grande's new song "Thank U, Next" has me feeling a little inspired. We all have those pesky inner critics that bring us down. I'm here to tell you to kick yours to the curb as well.

Dear Inner Critic,

It's time to talk. I think it is best to part our ways. I know you think you're helping me, but you are not.

You want to keep me safe by locking me into a comfort zone where I can stay untouched and cozy. Well, I am tired of being stuck there. I want to explore the world and accomplish so much. All you ever do is hold me back and make me question myself.

Overthinking is what you have taught me to do best.

I am tired of not doing things I want to do because you make me think I will fail or embarrass myself. I refuse to sit and watch from the sideline with you any longer. I am good enough, whether you think so or not.

I do not need you to compare me to anyone. Not to those Instagram models or my friends… NO ONE. I am me, so accept that! My life is great and I am sick of wishing I had other people's.

I get it, I should have studied harder for that test, but there is no reason to beat me up over it.

And oh well if I didn't make it to the gym last week! You need to realize I am just fine as myself and your annoying comments only tear me down. I mean, I don't even remember asking you your opinion, but you seem to LOVE giving it!

I know we have been together for a long time so I don't want to leave you on completely bad terms. I will tell you "thank you" because you've taught me a lot. You've helped me to keep my expectations of myself high, but I don't need you for that anymore. I know what I need to do to be successful without your stress.

You've helped me pick out every single flaw, but now I love them. You've helped me realize I need to grow and change, but not for others like you think. I can do what I want without the fear of you. So with all of that, you are cut off.

Thank u, next.

Love, Sophia

Sophia Mayfield
Sophia Mayfield Nov 12, 2018
At Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
At Aspiring Journalism Professionals

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Sorry I'm A Size 00

But I'm not really sorry.
Jessica Ulett
Jessica Ulett Aug 29, 2016
215730
views

My whole life I’ve been thin—which is kind of an understatement. Every time I go to the doctor I get the same “you’re underweight” lecture that I’ve heard every year since I was able to form memories. I’ve never really felt insecure about my weight, I love being able to eat everything and not gain a single pound. Since my freshman year of high school I’ve probably only gained 8 pounds and I’m now a sophomore in college. Of course, in school, there were rumors that I was anorexic or bulimic, but everyone who knew me knew that was far from the truth. I’m now 19, 5’2, and I still have yet to break 100 pounds on the scale. It seems that there is a lot of skinny shaming going around and to me, one of the main contributors to that is the Dove Real Beauty campaign.

You’re probably wondering where I’m going with this because skinny girls get all the praise and other body types are neglected. That’s really not true, though. While loving other body types, you are tearing down skinny girls. Why is it okay to do that to skinny girls but not to other body types? Why is it okay to say “only dogs like bones” or say “every body type is beautiful” until you see a model's abs, or ribs, or thigh gap and then tear them down because they’re “unnaturally” skinny?



The point I’m trying to make is that, as a naturally skinny girl, I have never shamed anyone for their body type, yet I go every day and get at least two comments about my weight. I’m always the skinny girl, the toothpick, but I’m not Jessica. Yeah, I’m a size 00. Get over it. If you have an issue with my body and feel like my body is disgusting to you, don’t look at it. I know that I’m healthy and I don’t need your input when my body just naturally burns calories fast. I don’t have an eating disorder and never have. I am real beauty though, and I know that because I’m comfortable in my own skin. So maybe the real issue is that we as a society have been shoving certain body types down our daughters’ throats so they begin to romanticize models that have certain standards that they have to meet, who work hard for the bodies that they have, and are making a hell of a lot more money than most of the people discussing why they look emaciated while what they’re actually looking at is the photoshopped product.

I’m not going to apologize for being skinny when that is just how my body is, I can’t help it. So please, stop tearing my body down while trying to bring your body up. You can praise your body without shaming skinny girls. Shaming me for being thin does not make you better than the man that shamed your body, just as me shaming you for being curvy does not make me better than the man that shamed my body. As women, we need to love each other because we are the only ones who truly understand each other.

Cover Image Credit: Victoria's Secret Untouched
Jessica Ulett
Jessica Ulett Aug 29, 2016
At University of South Florida

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'Taste The Rainbow' But Not Because Skittles Said To

The health benefits of eating a wide range of fruits and vegetables

Haley Spellman
Haley Spellman Feb 14, 2019
687
views

Does everyone know that fruits and vegetables are good for you, but do you know why they are considered to be nutritious?

Some may believe the answer is because they have low caloric value, which isn't wrong but they provide so much more. They possess phytochemicals.

Phytochemicals are naturally occurring compounds found in plant foods that provide the fruit and vegetables their color, taste, and odor. More than that, each phytochemical comes with its health benefits.

There are seven mechanisms of action or ways that phytochemicals are beneficial to our health.

They can either act as antioxidants which help to prevent damage to healthy cells, anti-inflammatory, chemo-preventative, support our immune system, trigger apoptosis or programmed cell death, protect our DNA, regulate hormones and finally, some may have the ability for specific actions, such as inhibiting the growth of bad bacteria.

Below is a list of phytochemicals:

1. Carotene 

Alpha and beta carotene give fruits and vegetables an orange or yellow color. Some examples of foods that are high in beta carotene are sweet potatoes, carrots, and bell peppers of those colors.

Carotene, when ingested, is converted into Vitamin A that your body can easily absorb and utilize. Carotene has been scientifically proven to help eye and heart health as well as support our immune system by acting as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and possessing chemo-preventive factors.

2. Lycopene 

Think tomatoes. The phytochemical lycopene is responsible for the red color in whole plant foods. The health effects are acting as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, chemo-preventative but also good for DNA and urinary tract health. What's cool about lycopene is that no matter how you prepare your food, you don't lose any of the nutrients.

3. Chlorophyll 

Eat your greens. Chlorophyll-rich foods appear green. Some excellent sources include dark leafy greens and broccoli. Chlorophyll, like the other phytochemicals are known to be antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and chemo-preventative. Choosing foods that have a rich and vibrant color indicate that is a good source of that phytochemical.

So, next time you're in the produce aisle, be sure to choose your colors wisely.

4. Anthocyanin

Anthocyanins are those foods that are red, blue and purple. Any type of berry is an excellent source of antioxidants. Antioxidants combat damage to cells by helping balance those that are unstable. Cells become unsteady when they have an uneven pairing of protons and electrons so antioxidants essentially give an electron to the cells that need it.

5. Reservatrol

The color purple. Just as every phytochemical mentioned, resveratrol contains antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and chemo-preventative agents. That's the beauty of phytochemicals. Reservartrol also takes it a step further to help brain and bone health. Studies have proven that eating foods rich in resevatrol also help to protect against age-related diseases.

If you want to learn more about the health benefits of phytochemicals, please check out this wonderful book!

Haley Spellman
Haley Spellman Feb 14, 2019
At College of Charleston

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