Why do we compare ourselves to others, all the while justifying it by saying that they are just prettier, or smarter or cooler and there is nothing you can do? Why do we envy the poor souls who were given the gift of beauty or wealth and begrudge our roots? Why do we look in the mirror and see those rolls on our pudgy tummies and think it’s the worst thing in the world that can be on our bodies, instead of being thankful we are all lucky enough to be able to afford food to sustain ourselves? Why not look at the glass half full? Look at the blessings in your life that are hidden in the things that you aren't so grateful for? Remember to love yourself and treat your body with respect because it is the only one you will ever get? I once read that you should treat yourself like you would treat a young child; get to bed early, eat healthy, give yourself confidence, never say mean things about yourself and always love your body. There are studies that have been done on young girls and body image, and children as young as five are aware of their body image and compare themselves to others who are skinnier than they are. Go back and read that number again. Yes, your mind isn't playing tricks on you. The number is 5! A five year old can barely read, but she can tell if Jen in her kindergarten class is skinnier or fatter than she is. This obsession only gets worse. Our daughters, sisters, little cousins, and nieces are feeling bad about their bodies at an age when most of them can't read, and they are carrying it with them throughout their lives. Their fragile minds are being intoxicated with flashy images and exposed to unrealistic representations of how they ‘should be’, instead of just letting them ‘be’. They are little kids. They deserve to be playing with toys and running around outside, instead of playing with makeup and running around chasing boys. Girls are dressing older and older who are way younger. Thirteen year olds wear crop tops, makeup, and booty shorts. They straighten their hair and wear all the cool new trends, and if they don't go with the crowd they are excluded from it. The goal for most is to sneak by without being noticed, because being different is how you get bullied. But when you grow up and realize that being able to express yourself is one of the most important things you can do in life, you see that all those years spent trying to fit in weren't worth it. Being yourself is the best feeling in the world and it is one everyone, at every age should feel. So why do we feel all those things? Simply because positive body image isn't cool. Well I say ‘screw you’ to cool, let’s just be ourselves... Just be you!