Dear you,

I see you sitting at your makeup mirror, covering as much of your actual face as possible. With every stroke of the brush, you slap on more concealer. You cover your eyelids in hefty amounts of powder and thick black lines.

I see you trying to decide what to wear. You are picking more revealing clothing to draw people to you. However, sometimes I see you pick baggy clothing to hide your body.

I see you looking down at your stomach wondering why you're not as skinny as the people on Instagram. After that, I see you push away your plate of food and skip a meal or two.

I see you go around trying your hardest to get people to talk to you, no matter what it takes. Lying about who you really are in fear of being laughed at and pretending to be something you're not.

So, I'm here to tell you:

Quit all of that!

Because you are the best that you can be and all these things you're doing are NOT necessary.

I was also in your place at one point or another. Quite frankly, sometimes I still have my slip-ups where I skip a meal or overdo my makeup. But it's not healthy.

Maybe your grades aren't as good as some of your peers. You might get upset about it, or even think that they're smarter or better than you. However, that isn't true. Everyone is different. Maybe college isn't for you. Maybe you're studying wrong and need a new study method. This doesn't mean you destroy yourself because you got a 79 and your friends got 90's.

You work hard each and everyday for what you have, and that is an amazing thing in itself. You have the capability to move mountains, but you have to believe in yourself first.

Caring about what other people think will just waste your time and cause you to backtrack. You'll never do anything for you because you'll be too caught up in tending to other people's feelings. That whole process is tiring and draining. In the end, all you are worried about is taking care of yourself (and eventually a family if you chose that) and keeping yourself going. You don't need to throw in people that judge you into that mix. They aren't worth it.

Imagine going into a store and completely falling in love with a pair of sunglasses. You have them in your hands in preparation to buy them, and then someone walks past you and whispers to their friend how the glasses are ugly. Why put them down? You loved them from the second you saw them and jumped at the opportunity to buy them. YOU are the one who has to wear them, and as long as YOU are happy with them, that is the only thing matters. Your confidence will show people how great you really are.

Oh, you're planning a vacation with your best friend? You're going to Disney World? Well, now there are people judging you. Why didn't you go to a different location? Why do you have to go there? Why not go with your boyfriend, don't you love him? Now, step back and think about these questions. What are people judging you for? Are they paying for your trip? Are they coming with you? No? Well, in that case, you can tell them that they can entertain someone else away from you. All that matters is that you get to go where you want and that you're happy about it.

Nothing you do will ever be good enough for every single solitary person in this world. It's inevitable. However, you don't need to surround yourself with those negative people. Instead, find the people that lift you, that admire what you do and how you do it. But most importantly, be happy with yourself.

I know it's hard to try and change your perspective on things, but you can do it.

So...

Makeup or not, you are so insanely gorgeous. You don't need to spend countless hours a day prepping your face to go from one place to another. Black eyeshadow and bright pink blush don't do anything more but cover your true beauty.

Revealing clothing might show off parts of your body, but for what? People should like you for you, not for your looks or how you dress. As for baggy clothing, unless it's because you're having a day where you Netflix and Pizza, you don't need it. If you feel like you have to cover up your body to hang out with people, then you're with the wrong people. You were made the way you were for a reason, and you're perfect how you are.

Stop looking down at your stomach. Most of those Instagram models are not real. They're Photoshop phonies who put filters on themselves. No need to skip your meals over it. Your body needs nutrition, and you need to take care of it! No matter if you have rolls, stretch marks, or abs; you're perfect.

Don't lie about who you are. If you sleep with stuffed animals or sing to children's music, embrace it. If you're not into TV, if you don't like Netflix, or if you like diner food more than anything, express it. There are so many people out there that would praise you for it. How was I supposed to know my friends still know all of the Jonas Brothers' songs if I didn't take the initiative and play them in the car? What you like is your personality, don't go around trying to change it to be someone else.

All the people that you think you are not good enough for...

...Are most certainly not good enough for you.

From,

A girl who was in your shoes