I have recently changed my relationship status from, "eating ice cream alone and watching 'The Bachelor'" to "eating ice cream and watching 'The Bachelor'... with my boyfriend." I must say I am #blessed and beyond lucky to have such a loving and supportive bae.
Like every new relationship, you have to get to know each other. Their likes and dislikes. Their quirks and pet-peeves. But one of the more exciting things you get to learn, especially if you go to school with them, is how they eat and take care of themselves.
My version of "self-love" looks like sleeping in until 12:00 p.m. and having a hot cup of coffee while I curl up in bed and scroll through the 'gram. In a perfect world, I have a pastry and no responsibilities. But like the Rolling Stones once said, you can't always get what you want.
My boyfriend, on the other hand, is bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 8 a.m. every morning ready with pre-workout in one hand and a kick-ass attitude in the other. Let me tell you the Lord must have known what He was doing when He brought him into my life.
I have to say that initially, I had a lot of self-doubts when we were first together. I was worried that he wouldn't like me because I am not some fitness model on Instagram that sells protein powder for a little extra cash (I'm not salty lol). I was convinced that every time he went to the gym he would see all these fit girls and wish I was more like them.
It took me a little while to voice these concerns to him because even though I'm a comm major that doesn't mean I am a pro at communicating in a relationship. Immediately once I shared these thoughts, I knew that they were all for nothing. He instantly reassured me that what drew him to me was not my outward appearance (but he did say I'm a sight for sore eyes) but my personality and love for the Lord.
I think this is a topic of conversation that can be so important to have in a relationship. It is great to be able to communicate to one another what you appreciate and admire about each other. One thing I have learned is that you can't read the other person's mind, so you have no clue how they feel about you unless you ask or they show you.
Every woman struggles with loving the body they are given. With social media today, it is so easy to get lost in the "perfect" idea of the female figure. Ladies, there is so much more to you than looks and dress sizes. You have character, talents, passions, dreams and they all make you the woman you are today.
Find a man that will see all of those traits and unique qualities you possess and encourage them. There is nothing like being with someone that loves you for who you are, not what you look like, or how many miles you can run on the treadmill.
