Beauty.

Mr. H and I were having a little heart to heart last night.  

I was talking about how I'm SO sick of having body image issues.  

It makes me mad that I am an educated woman who still believes the lies and filth fed to me.  

It makes me mad that even though I KNOW it's dumb, I still think the best thing I could be is pretty.  

It makes me scared that my negative perceptions and thoughts WILL affect my children.

So Mr. H gave me a challenge this year.  A research project, so to speak.  

Every week, I want to write about something new I have discovered.  It may be a little personal, but I know that if I write and publish it, I'll do it.  I want to examine my own beliefs and wants.  I want to examine research and essays on this topic.  

I want this year to be a year where I spend some SERIOUS time redefining my priorities and how I see myself and those around me.  

I want to have a change in me this year.  

I love the website, http://www.beautyredefined.net/.  I will be pulling a lot of their information and using it here.  

They provide a list of ideas of strategies for women to be able to REJECT the harmful messages we are fed everyday.  A full list can be found here: http://www.beautyredefined.net/resources/resources-for-females/

Each week, I will post one strategy to work on for that week.

Week #1 Stop Negative Self-Talk: Too many girls and women have a constant script of mean thoughts about themselves running through their minds. That kind of negativity is not motivational or inspirational. In fact, it tends to show up on the outside. Recent studies show us that girls who don’t like their bodies become more sedentary over time and pay less attention to having a healthy diet. And that makes sense. If you think you’re gross and worthless, why would you take care of yourself?---beauty redefined.net

This week I would challenge all of us to stop this negative talk.  Whenever I say something negative or mean about myself, I want to immediately replace it with something positive about myself.  

Every week I also want to post a picture of a woman that inspires me and why that woman is someone I would want to be like.  

Week #1

My mom.  My mom is one of the best people I know.  She is amazingly strong.  She isn't perfect, but she is constantly striving to better herself EVERYDAY.  She loves her family with her whole heart.  Her priorities are in the right place.  I truly admire that about her.  

If any of you ever have any thoughts or ideas, I would LOVE to hear them.  

Here's to a truly more BEAUTIFUL year.